What Is Tech Neck?

The AHA! Team — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 05:15:42 +0000

University of Miami via Newswise – A University of Miami Doctor of Physical Therapy explains what it is and what we can do to alleviate its symptoms. All the new technologies that have become a permanent part of our lives: Smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops and others have brought us constant connectivity, access to friends, news, information, and entertainment. But the constant use of these devices has also generated a physical condition that can be a real pain in the neck. Experts say that between 27 to 48 percent of workers experience neck pain each year. About 73 percent of higher educaton students do, too. Tech neck, also known as text neck, is a condition characterized by pain, stiffness, and discomfort in the neck and shoulders caused by prolonged use of electronic devices. About 91 percent of Americans own a smartphone and spend an average of four-to-six hours a day looking at the screen, according to experts. So, it is important to understand the causes of tech/text neck and what to do to alleviate it. Phil Grattan, a board-certified orthopedic specialist and an assistant professor of clinical physical therapy at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Physical Therapy, shares some insights on the condition. What is tech neck? Tech or text neck refers to neck pain and potential cervical spine degeneration resulting from the repeated stress of keeping the head flexed (bent forward) while looking down at the screens of mobile devices, tablets, or while texting for long periods of time. Why does this happen now more than before? Since the introduction of the iPhone in June 2007, the use of smartphones has exponentially risen among the entire population. According to a recent survey by Harmony Healthcare IT in 2024, Americans spend on average 5 hours and 16 minutes per day on the phone. For Generation Z, this increases to 6 hours and 27 minutes per day. What role does the continuous use of smartphones and tablets aggravate it? The average head weighs 11 pounds. Keeping the neck bent at 30 to 60 degrees to view a smartphone or tablet places excessive strain on the posterior neck muscles and stress on the cervical spine in an attempt to hold the head in that position. This may lead to neck, upper back, and shoulder pain. What can be done to get rid of the pain? Be cognizant of your posture when using a smartphone or tablet. Bending the head forward for a sustained period of time should be avoided. Limit the total number of hours spent looking at your phone over the course of the day. If you need to look at your phone for a long period of time, take frequent breaks. Every 10-20 minutes is recommended. When using your phone, try to keep the head straight and bring the phone directly in front of you. Using a pillow to support your arms when using the phone while sitting can also help. Use ergonomic support devices, when possible, to position your smartphone or tablet as close to eye-level as possible. Ensure the device is directly in front of you, not towards one side. What exercises or treatments do you use and recommend to get rid of it? If neck pain persists, seek care from a medical doctor who can provide treatment and/or refer you to the appropriate health care provider. Physical therapists are providers who can help improve posture, provide education, and prescribe strengthening exercises and home neck stretches to help alleviate the symptoms. To read the original article click here.

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Like Patching a Flat Tire: New Fix Heals Herniated Discs

AHA Publisher — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:00:59 +0000

Cornell University via Newswise – A new two-step technique to repair herniated discs uses hyaluronic acid gel to re-inflate the disc and collagen gel to seal the hole, essentially repairing ruptured discs like you’d repair a flat tire. Newswise — ITHACA, N.Y. – After a rupture, a jelly-like material leaks out of a herniated disc, causing inflammation and pain. The injury is usually treated one of two ways: a surgeon sews up the hole, leaving the disc deflated; or the disc is refilled with a replacement material, which doesn’t prevent repeat leakages. Each approach on its own isn’t always effective. A collaboration led by Cornell University professor Lawrence Bonassar combined these two methods into a new two-step technique that results in a “patched” disc that maintains mechanical function and won’t collapse or deteriorate. “This is really a new avenue and a whole new approach to treating people who have herniated discs,” Bonassar said. “We now have potentially a new option for them, other than walking around with a big hole in their intervertebral disc and hoping that it doesn’t re-herniate or continue to degenerate. And we can fully restore the mechanical competence of the disc.” Bonassar’s research group seeks engineering-based solutions for degenerative disc disease. Over the last decade, the group has developed a collagen gel that incorporates riboflavin, a photoactive vitamin B derivative. Instead of sewing up a ruptured disc, the researchers can patch it by applying their gel and shining light on it to activate the riboflavin. The resulting chemical reaction causes fibers in the collagen to bond together and the thick gel stiffens into a solid. Most importantly, the gel provides a more fertile ground for cells to grow new tissue, sealing the defect better than any suture could. The technique only takes five or 10 minutes and can be applied in conjunction with a discectomy, the hourlong procedure by which the leaked nucleus pulposus is removed from the nerve root. The technique could be used to address other types of disc degeneration, or integrated into other spinal procedures and therapies. The paper, “Combined Nucleus Pulposus Augmentation and Annulus Fibrosus Repair Prevents Acute Intervertebral Disc Degeneration after Discectomy,” published in Science Translational Medicine. To read the original article click here.

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What Is Tech Neck?

Like Patching a Flat Tire: New Fix Heals Herniated Discs