Keep Your Head Up! (Literally)
By Brandi Goodman
Tech neck has become a major problem in today's society. Too many people are spending hours out of their days looking down at devices and exhibiting poor posture. You need to keep your head up and looking forward if you hope to maintain your posture and prevent yourself from experiencing some serious pain in your neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Spinal Problems
Consistently keeping your head down and neck tilted will lead to some serious spinal problems. Your neck is connected to your spine, after all. The weight of your head will tug at your shoulders and cause some serious discomfort and damage to the top of the spine. You may face degenerative issues and eventually find yourself in need of surgery because of it.
Headaches
The constant tension in your neck caused by your poor posture can quickly lead to headaches. If you're starting to experience headaches regularly, take note of how you usually sit when you're spending time on your phone, tablet, or computer. Are you looking downward and tilting your neck? This could be the culprit of your pain.
Poor Balance
If you're used to keeping your head down as you look at devices, you may soon find yourself out of balance. Your spine needs to remain straight with your head held high if you hope to keep your balance and walk straight. Look down at a phone as you're walking and you're far more likely to walk off-centered and trip. Maintain your spinal health to keep your balance in check.
Abnormal Curvature
Over time, the curve formed in your neck while your head is angled downward can become permanent. If you start to realize you're developing an abnormal curvature or seem to feel like the back of your neck is thicker or more protruded, it's time to see a chiropractor. The problem may have become too developed and some serious intervention will be in order.
Additional Tips to Help
In order to combat some of the damage done, you need to really up your posture game. Make sure you're practicing good posture with everything you do and starting to really think about your head and how it's positioned at all times. Never look down at a device and instead keep it up to your eye level. You should also be working to strengthen your neck with regular stretches and exercises.
Keep your head held high and facing forward at all times that you can. It's important that you follow proper posture techniques so you can avoid pain and keep your spine strong. Doing so will be beneficial to your spinal health and overall well-being.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Peachtree City, Ga.