Fixing iPhone Neck

“Andrew loves technology, especially his iPad or my iPhone,” Paul M. Salinas says of his 6-year-old son.

“However, as he’s getting older, his posture while using his iPad has gotten progressively worse.”

[lz_ndn video=24838324]

This physical change concerns Salinas not just as a dad — but as a Manhattan-based chiropractor from Park Avenue Spine. “While on his iPad, my son slouches forward with his head in front of his shoulders. I’m always reminding him to sit up and correct his posture while using it.” 

The boy doesn’t have any pain complaints yet, but this type of posture can lead to the latest problem facing our nation’s kids – tech neck.

Related: Selfie Lice

Also known as “iPhone neck,” this condition is becoming an increasing issue as society’s use of smartphones continues to rise.

It’s the excessive strain placed on the back of the neck with sustained forward flexion — or looking down —at the phone for extended periods of time. The result can be damaged muscle tissues, improper joint movement, ligament sprain, and eventually premature disc and joint degeneration.

Tech obsession can lead to damaged muscle tissues, improper joint movement, ligament sprain, and eventually premature disc and joint degeneration.

“I have treated a few children for issues related to tech overuse. I can usually find an aggravating activity, and commonly it’s poor posture due to iPhones, tablets, and video games,” said Erik Korzen, a chiropractic physician in Mokena, Illinois, noting that the majority are ages 12 to 18.

“With tech neck, there’s the typical forward head posture with rounded upper back and shoulders. This position, over time, will result in certain overactive muscles, certain underactive muscles, and restricted range of motion in certain areas,” he said.

Related: Smartphones Know Your Moods

“With the rise of smartphone use (and at younger ages), we’re seeing children with very poor posture, muscle control, lack of mobility in certain joints, headaches, and back pain.”

A study published in the journal Surgical Technology International says the average adult head weighs between 10 to 20 pounds. Yet the force of the head tilted down at a 60-degree angle puts 60 pounds of weight on the neck and shoulders. Although your child’s head is smaller, there’s still significant pressure.

Addressing the Problem
“I believe educating our children about the importance of posture is a good way to start,” Salinas said.

For little Andrew and the rest of the family, this translates to frequent breaks when using tech devices, at least once every 20 to 30 minutes.

When your child must be on his or her smartphone or tablet, have him raise it so he’s looking straight ahead and not down.

“The most important (way to prevent it) is to limit the use of the smartphones and tablets, and encourage movement,” Salinas said. “As a member of Generation X, I spent a lot more time playing outside and was always active. We had less access to technology than the millennials and Generation Z.”

It’s this old-school practice that experts agree can break the iPhone neck problem. While schedules don’t always allow for kids’ yoga classes (though they’re very beneficial to helping tech neck), there are simple at-home exercises.

Related: Now a No-Sweat Zone

“There are many basic mobility exercises that can be very beneficial and require little to no equipment to perform,” said chiropractor Len Lopez of Dallas, Texas. One is to look straight ahead and raise your head, looking up to the ceiling.

“This causes the muscle on the back of your neck to finally contract and allows the shortened muscles on the front of your neck to lengthen,” Lopez said.

For long car rides,when MineCraft or NetFlix are welcome escapes, Lopez said to push your head back into the headrest.

“This activates the muscles on the back of your neck to contract, and allows the muscles on the front part of your neck to stretch,” he said.

When your child must be on his or her smartphone or tablet, have him raise it so he looks straight ahead and not down.

If your child is experiencing tech neck, speak with your pediatrician for a referral to a chiropractor or physical therapist. A trained professional can help treat the problem before it worsens, and educate you and your children on specific activities to do at home to prevent it in the future.

A child’s health, after all, is worth sticking your neck out for.