What the Heck is Tech Neck?

No matter where you go these days, it’s difficult to not see someone on a device looking down with their head forward in a stooped posture. This is the new epidemic called “Tech Neck” and it’s affecting everyone, especially our children. The average phone user spends more than 2-4 hours a day hunched over texting, reading endless emails, and checking social media sites. This adds up to 1400 hours of extra spine crushing stress on our head, neck, and upper backs. Young children are the most susceptible to this with high school students spending an additional 5000 hours in this position. 

The average head weighs 10-12 pounds. Every inch forward your bowling ball shifts puts an extra 10 lbs of force on that upper spine, neck, and shoulders. This often leads to debilitating neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and even pain into the "wings" or shoulder blades. Many of us suffer with pain for years seeking Dr after Dr, taking endless harmful medication, and even resorting to dangerous often ineffective surgeries to resolve their condition. 

For the past 19 years, I have made it my mission to educate my patients and the Rockville Centre community on the devastating effects of spinal misalignments called “subluxations”. This often silent condition has huge implications on your health and that of your children. Most think this is caused purely by physical trauma like car accidents and sports or work related injuries. Although it’s the insidious effects of hours of sitting hunched in front of a computer or stooped over our mobile devices that wreaks havoc on our spine and nervous systems. 

Musculoskeletal pain symptoms like lower back pain, sciatica, neck pain, and headaches are what chiropractic care has been known to have incredible success with over the years. 

Practicing over 23 years as a holistic chiropractor, I have seen poor posture and forward head posture lead to so many of the health conditions we see affecting the world today. Even organic conditions like asthma, allergies, ADHD, ear infections, digestive disorders, and so much more can come from these spinal subluxations. 

“Loss of the cervical curve (Subluxated neck bones) stretches the spinal cord 5-7 cm and causes disease.”

-Dr Alfred Breig (Nobel Prize recipient)

Nobel prize winner Alfred Breig, a world famous Neurosurgeon, discovered the direct causal relationship to the amount one loses the normal “C” curve in the neck and how it relates to health. We at Rhino Chiropractic have been correcting curves and restore what is known as the “Arc of Life” for many afflicted with “Tech Neck” and its unwanted symptoms. The nerves in the upper neck control and regulate the function of cells, tissues and organs. Chiropractic adjustments realign spinal subluxations and restores the natural flow so the body can heal and regenerate. 

We are in the most technologically advanced time in history, yet, we are walking around more hunched and slouched then our cavemen predecessors. Posture is a window to the spine. Chiropractic Adjustment helps to align the forward head position caused by “Tech Neck”. Here are some solutions you can start with until your structural chiropractic evaluation. 

•Hold device at eye level. 

•Use eyes to look at screen not your entire neck.

•Take 3 minute breaks every 15-20 minutes you spend on your device. 

•Phone or tablet holder.

•Prop pillow or 2 in your lap under arms while sitting on the couch. 

•Be mindful of your posture and keep your head as neutral as possible.

Get your Chiropractic "Tech Neck" care. 

If you think you or someone you love is affected by the unwanted effects of “Tech Neck” and the subluxations they cause, don’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. John Gehnrich of Rhino Chiropractic & Holistic Wellness Center in the heart of town on S Park Ave. 

“The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

-Thomas Edison