Recently, spine surgeons have been getting an increased number of patients complaining of upper back pain. This pain is most likely due to the improper posture adopted when using smartphones. The concern has become so widespread, that young patients who should not even have back and neck problems yet have been seen for alignment issues and disk hernias. No one knows what this will mean further down the road for young people who currently use phones all day. This constant holding of the neck at around 45 degrees or worse is resulting in necks that curve in the opposite direction of how they should. The spine suffers even more as the posture becomes more flexed due to the increased perceived weight of the head bearing down upon it.
To aid in avoiding this issue and preventing the need for future surgeries down the road, doctors suggest small changes like holding phones near eye level or using both hands and thumbs to create more symmetry for the spine. Additionally, spinal surgeons suggest that people constantly working on computers or tablets use a stand to elevate the screen to eye level. Other experts say that a more practical recommendation would be to take frequent breaks or strengthen the muscles with exercise and stretching. Many ideas are being suggested in an effort to tackle this widespread issue head on.
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Key Points:
- 1There are long term effects of not using a smart phone properly or those what sit at desks for long periods of time.
- 2It is recommended to take breaks and evaluate your posture when interacting with technology.
- 3Additional awareness should be raised from this to inform others of the long term effect on our bodies.
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