Tech Neck: Convenience with a Side of Neck Pain?

Australians are spending more and more time online. With the COVID pandemic, many people started working from home and using the internet for almost everything. Now, 80% use social media to connect with friends, research products, play games, watch videos, and shop online. In fact, we spend about 40% of our time online!

But all this convenience comes with a hidden cost: neck and shoulder pain. Our heads, weighing in at around 5kg, put a strain on our bodies when we hunch over laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Just tilting your head down by 45 degrees is the equivalent of your neck muscles holding a 22kg bag of potatoes! 

Here's how "tech neck" can manifest:

• Headaches

• Stiff necks

• Neck spasms

• Pain between the shoulder blades

• Difficulty looking up after prolonged screen time

• In seve

  
  
  
  

  re cases: numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms (pinched nerve)

Tips to Avoid Tech Neck Down Under:

So how can we enjoy the digital world without suffering the physical consequences? Here are some tips:

• Mind your posture: Keep your head aligned with your spine, not jutting forward.

• Raise your screen: Laptops and tablets should be at eye level to minimize neck strain.

• Take breaks: Get up and move around every 30 minutes to reduce muscle tension.

• Stretch it out: Regularly perform neck and shoulder stretches to improve flexibility.

• Strengthen those muscles: Exercises that target your neck and shoulders can help support the weight of your head.

By being mindful of our posture and taking breaks, we can keep our digital lives enjoyable and pain-free. Remember, a healthy neck is a happy neck!