Beware of the Text Neck

I read an article in The Star's Fit4life section today, and tracked down its original source, titled "Texting Becoming a Pain in the Neck" by UNMC Physicians.

Link: http://www.unmcphysicians.com/whats-new/2012/november/texting%20becoming%20a%20pain%20in%20the%20neck.aspx

Here are some extracts from the article to give you a glimpse of what's this all about:

An excessive amount of leaning your head forward and down, while looking at a phone or other mobile device could result in what some people call “text neck.”

The term, “text neck,” was first coined by a chiropractor in Florida. “Text neck” is defined as overuse syndrome involving the head, neck and shoulders, usually resulting from excessive strain on the spine from looking in a downward position at hand held devices such as cell phones, mp3 players, e-readers, computer tablets, etc.

“When you hold your body in an abnormal position, it can increase stress on the muscles, cause fatigue, muscle spasms and even stress headaches,” Cornett said. “With every degree of motion to the front or side that you move your head, the stress on your neck is magnified beyond just the weight of the head.”

Do read the article for suggestions on how you can avoid this potential health issue.