Do you have neck pain from arthritis? Or perhaps, your neck is feeling the strain from looking down — such as on your phone, reading, sewing or desk work. These activities can be a pain in the neck — literally!
The discomfort from looking down has been called tech neck, text neck or phone neck. And if it hasn’t happened to you yet, chances are at some point it will if you’re a phone or tablet user.
Why is this? Well, your head weighs about 10-12 pounds when your spine is in a neutral position. But when you bend your head forward, the stress this places on the neck can be as much as 60 pounds, depending on the angle. And that much load can do damage over time.
Most of us are not going to use our phones less, so what can we do about this?
First and foremost, be sure to hold your phone up in front of you at eye level instead of looking down at your phone.
Secondly, exercises can help relieve neck tension and strengthen those muscles so that you can reduce discomfort.
This short program features five exercises you can do for tech neck or arthritis. Do all of these movements very slowly and gently. Perform these exercises every day to help relieve neck stiffness and strengthen those muscles. And remember, keep your phone or book UP instead of down!
Note: If you are experiencing pain or are injured, DON’T exercise until you consult your physician or physical therapist.
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