It comes as no surprise that with the increase of technology, we are seeing a shift in the posture of our society and especially our kids. Posture has long been correlated with varying levels of health and we are seeing it today more than ever in younger generations . In fact, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, most 8-18 year olds spend an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes a day, leaning forward, looking down at their screen. This adds up to 2,600 hours per year!
What is the problem with that you ask?
This type of posture puts strain on the neck and can lead to long-term negative consequences. A human head weighs about the same as a bowling ball; 8-12 pounds. The body is designed to be able to hold the head up in a neutral position when we sit or stand. However, consistently leaning the head forward, out of neutral positioning, puts pressure on the neck and increases the physical stress on the ligaments, nerves, and the muscles of the spine. In one study, they found that for every 1 inch forward that we move our head, we add another 10 pounds of force on the neck structures. So if you’re looking down at your phone texting or watching a movie, their can be an added 60 pounds of pressure on the neck. The upper back then has to compensate for this added pressure. Damage resulting from this posture has been shown to decrease concentration, increase headaches, increase stiffness in the neck, suppress the immune system, and a wide variety of other negative consequences.
So as you can see, this is not just a “neck” problem, our whole health is impacted by continuous poor posture.
How can we avoid this tech neck posture?
1) Hold your phone or device up in front of your face so you don’t have to look down.
2) Set a reminder on your phone to take a break from using your phone or device every 30 minutes. This allows us to get up and move around in a neutral position so that our body can take a break from the strain.
3) Change your desk at work or at home to standing desks.
4) Regular exercise has been shown to improve posture. In addition, strengthening our upper back and neck helps us build up resistive forces so when we do use our technology, it doesn’t have as much of an impact on our body.
Atone Chiropractic is invested in improving the health of our community. Our health is our biggest asset and it’s important to take time to educate ourselves on how to maintain our well-being. If you can only take one thing away from this post, remember that you are designed to move and not to stay in one position for an extended amount of time. Movement plays a crucial part in your health so move and move often!
