Are you guilty of using your phone too much? Come on, admit it.
Do you spend hours on social media, You Tube, sending and checking your emails, researching online and texting? Most of us do, and whilst we don’t like to admit just how much time we spend on our smartphones, in the UK it’s likely to be somewhere around the 2-4 hours per day mark.
Yes, up to 4 hours of your day is spent staring at a lump of technological plastic!
Of course, phones aren’t the only piece of technology we regularly attach ourselves throughout the day. Tablets, laptops, desktop computers, you name it, we’re all over it. This is the technological age we live in, but it does come at a price. Could you have tech neck?
This is widely known as ‘text neck’, or 'iHunch' and it can be extended to all types of screens, so we’ll go for tech instead.
Put simply, this is neck strain and pain caused by incorrect posture when looking at a smartphone, laptop, tablet, or any type of screen for a long period of time. This can be whilst sitting at your desks or whilst on the go. We know that sitting for too long can be damaging, but the way you sit is also something you need to think about, as well as how much time you spend with technology in front of your eyes.
Check out this informative infographic which gives you the low down on exactly what this problem is
Source: www.backinshapechiro.com/healthy-living/text-neck-infographic
From that infographic you can see that the average weight of an adult head is around 12lb. That’s a lot of weight!
A research study – by Surgical Technology International – has shown, that when that weight is shifted too far forward, i.e. when you’re looking at a phone or other screen, it’s bound to put excessive strain on your neck muscles, which are desperately trying to keep everything in alignment. Over time, whether you’re sat at ergonomic chairs or not, this can put excessive stress on your neck and cause chronic pain, long-term strain of the muscles, pinched nerves, and even disc herniation.
None of these are problems you should be inviting into your life freely. So, how can you avoid tech neck?
Firstly, make sure that you’re sitting correctly at your office desks, especially when using a laptop. When you’re out and about, perhaps using your phone, make sure you’re using a good posture then. The best posture to use is with your ears in alignment with your shoulders, and then retract the shoulders backwards, e.g. make sure your shoulders aren’t bunched upwards. The more you practice this position, the more natural it will feel.
You should also avoid cradling your phone in the crook of your neck and this strains one side of your neck and causes pain.
When you’re using collaborative office furniture, perhaps brainstorming on a subject, be wary of your posture then, and don’t spend time hunched over. Opt for ergonomic furniture as far as possible, and make sure that you know how to get the best out of it, by using all the available features.
It’s impossible to avoid using technology, but try and limit how much time you spend on your phone or table when you’re not working, as this will help your neck and your eyesight too. You should also hold your phone at eye level, and make sure that your screen is at the same level, to avoid that forward posture which is known to cause tech neck in the first place.
At the end of the day it’s all about being aware of how much time you spend on your phone and using other types of technology, limiting your time when you can, and making sure that you’re sitting in the best position possible. The best office furniture will help you to be comfortable and supported throughout your working day, and provided you take regular breaks and stretch out on a regular basis, you’re doing all you can to avoid developing this all too common condition.