Could smartphone use be giving you text neck?

Do you really know?

According to data from Finder.com, the average Brit now spends 4 hours and 14 minutes using their smartphone each day. It’s hardly surprising; smartphone use has grown consistently over the last 15 years, to the extent that the devices have become almost like an extension of our arms and hands.

Given we tend to hold our phones out in front of us when using them, our heads bow down in quite an unnatural position to look at the screen. And doing so for extended periods can cause posture problems, which is what American chiropractor Dr Dean Fishman realised back in 2008. That was while examining a 17-year-old patient who had booked an appointment for neck pains and headaches. Fishman went on to coin the term “text neck” to describe her condition.

What exactly does text neck look like? What’s the difference between text neck and text neck wrinkles? What can people do to avoid bad postures and the complications that they cause? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

Why is my circadian rhythm so important?

Is it a bad idea to fall asleep in front of screens?

How can social media exposure lead to vicarious trauma?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

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