WASHINGTON — We all love our smartphones, but for many people they have —
literally — become a pain in the neck.
Physical therapists say they are seeing more and more patients with “text neck,”
a malady caused by constantly looking down at the phone.
Like the outbreak of carpal tunnel syndrome that accompanied the growth of
computerized offices, the rise of smartphones and the constant lure of the text message have
led to a surge in repetitive motion injuries involving the neck and upper spine.
Ann Wendel, a physical therapist with the MedStar NRH Rehabilitation Network in
Lorton, Virginia, says, “It is kind of the new epidemic of 2014.”
But while “text neck” has created a certain media buzz, Wendel says no one who
uses a smartphone needs to be alarmed — it is possible to remain
connected and protect your neck and spine from wear and tear.
“We have been looking down for tasks since the dawn of time,” she explains.
The problem is, unlike our ancestors, we don’t move our bodies enough in other
ways to build strength and a true range of motion.
The answer, says Wendel, is to get active and combine all that leaning over the
phone with other kinds of movements.
“Turning the neck from side to side, leaning the ear toward the shoulder on each
side, stretching the arms over the head and back behind you,” she suggests.
Keep it gentle and easy, and it is not a bad idea to do these kinds of stretches
every now and again at the office. Kids also need to move more to prevent “text
neck” and problems with texting hands, such as tendinitis.
The bottom line is that everyone spends too much time in the
same few positions. Few of us do the kind of manual labor people used to do,
and Wendel says that “We need to learn from a young age how to move well.”
Moves that used to come naturally, such as lifts and squats, now require some
practice. “Honestly,” says Wendell, “we all need to get up and move more.”
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