WASHINGTON — You probably spend a lot of time looking down at your smartphone
every day, and a back surgeon says that that’s really stressing out your neck
and the muscles around it.
Using a computer simulation, back surgeon Dr. Kenneth Hansraj calculated that
by tilting your head 45 degrees to look at your phone, the weight on your neck
is almost 50 pounds, even though your head only weighs about 11 pounds.
Tilt your head 60 degrees, and Hansraj finds the weight on your neck increases
to 60 pounds.
The Atlantic reports that Hansraj warns extra stress
like this could lead to early problems, and even surgery.
His suggestion? Try your best to sit or stand up straight while looking at
your phone.
The study details are published in the journal Surgical Technology
International.
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