Hey buddy, Californians! Ever wondered how cellphones cause forward head posture in California?
This question is bound to initiate a nagging pain that shall envelop your neck, upper back before finally making its way all the way down to your lower back. (This was just a jokeJ)
Nonetheless, ask yourself the following questions:
@ Do you suffer from a stiff neck?
@ Does your neck pain?
@ Does your head feel rather heavy throughout the day?
@ Does your head appear sliding forward when you look at your profile on the mirror?
@ Do you have difficulty breathing?
@ Do you experience stiffness, pain and discomfort in your neck and upper back area?
If the answer to any of the above question is “yes” then, you are indeed suffering from forward head posture.
Then, ask yourself this, “Do you watch cellphones daily?”
If the answer is “yes” then, you have the answer. It is indeed your cellphone that is responsible for your bad neck posture.
Do not worry! You are not alone.
In this digital age where technology reigns supreme, scrolling through the cellphone for hours is considered a normal act.
Cell phone is undoubtedly one of the main reasons why Californians are suffering from forward neck.
But why are cellphones in California causing you to develop a nerd neck? What can you do about it?
Well, let us get to the bottom of it all:
How Cellphones Cause Forward Head Posture in California – Points Covered in this Article:
1) How is the Digital Age Responsible for the Californian Head Shift?
2) What is a Bad Neck Posture?
3) Why are Cellphones to Blame for Your Nerd Neck?
4) Cell Phones, California & Forward Neck – What’s the Link?
5) Top 5 Ways Californians can Avoid Forward Head Posture while using their Cellphones
6) Conclusion
How is the Digital Age Responsible for the Californian Head Shift?
Did you know that in today’s era, cellphone are no less than an extension of our own hands?
Picture this:
You are in California and you have a cell phone in hand. As you scroll through the messages, posts or emails (these could be both important and casual). This scrolling extends from a few seconds to a few minutes.
What would be the position of your head if you are scrolling through your cellphone for say – 30 minutes?
It is not at all hard to imagine.
Your hands would be stooped low and your head shall slide forward to catch a glimpse of the media screen. This forward slide or tilt of the head is the main reason for you developing a bad neck posture.
Social Media & Bad Neck Posture:
So, your over indulgence in social media is literally sabotaging your cervical neck’s normal position. This unnatural shift of the head forward (a few inches to be precise) is not what your body is meant to withstand.
As days pass to months and months become years, your affiliation with your cellphone remains unchanged. The end result is a “forward head posture”.
What is a Bad Neck Posture?
Bad neck posture is defined as a condition wherein your head is inching forward. Your head is not aligned with your shoulders (as it should ideally be).
An ideal head position is one wherein it is aligned perfectly with your cervical spine. Your head rests right above your neck and is in line with your ear lobes. There is NO “sliding forward” or awkward “bending” of the head.
The complications are Countless:
When you suffer from a forward head, the muscles in your neck and upper back tend to get stiffer. You may experience pain in your neck and upper back area. Even your shoulders seem stiffer and may experience nagging and constant pain.
A Simpler Explanation:
Think of your head as a heavy bowling ball. When it’s perfectly balanced on your neck, the muscles don’t have to work too hard.
But when it is tilted forward, those muscles have to strain to keep your head up, leading to discomfort and pain.
So, a vulture neck posture or a nerd neck is not the best gift that you can give to your health.
Why are Cellphones to Blame for Your Nerd Neck?
When you are using your cellphone on a daily basis and for prolonged time period then, your body’s natural posture is bound to be compromised.
The Bowling Ball Example:
Imagine your head to be a bowling ball that is placed on top of your neck. In order for the bowling ball (your head) to remain balanced, you need to avoid shifting your neck from side to side or in a forward-backward motion.
If you make a sudden shift of the head – from the left to the right or forward/backward motion then, it is highly likely that the bowling ball (your head) shall fall to the ground.
In order to avoid the ball from falling to the side, the muscles in your neck and upper back shall be forced to work doubly hard. So, stretching and contracting of these muscle groups is inevitable.
When the muscles of your neck and upper back become weak, they are unable to hold your head in place. This is when aches, pains, muscle stiffness become a part and parcel of your life.
What does the Surgical Technology International Say?
As far as the Surgical Technology International report, using cellphones (similar to laptops) has a direct link with your current neck and head posture.
The strain that is placed onto your neck and shoulders when you use a cellphone is because of the awkward angle that you place your head into.
The research states that even a slight tilt of the head (say for example at an angle of 15 degrees) is capable of adding an unwanted weight of 27 pounds onto your cervical neck.
BestForwardHeadPosture researchers further add to this, “If the angle of your neck while scrolling though the cell phone is increased to 60 degrees then, your neck is battling to balance an unimaginable weight of 60 pounds.”
California is a tech capital of USA. This in turn implies that more and more individuals are at risk of using a cellphone. They might be using the cell for both work and pleasure.
Whatever the reason may be, it all results in you developing a forward neck. Forward head is simply a resultant of prolonged exposure to a cellphone screen.
Cell Phones, California & Forward Neck – What’s the Link?
Have you ever caught yourself hunched like a turtle while using a cellphone? This posture can be easily caught in a mirror – your side profile shall reveal the truth in a jiffy!
A simple inch long slide to the head in a forward motion is capable of adding 12 pounds of unwanted weight onto your neck. The longer is the forward slide, the heavier your head becomes.
This forces the muscles of your neck and back to weaken. There comes a day when these muscles become so stretched or compressed that they are unable to maintain the normal posture of your head.
The end result is forward head posture.
So, why is California in the receiving end of it all?
Well, the reason is self-explanatory itself. California is a tech-capital and where technology is at its peak, the use of media devises too is at its peak.
So, prolonged exposure to the cellphone screen shall compel you to crane your neck forward. This unnatural posture shall de-stabilize your cervical spine’s natural position. This action shall also weaken the muscles of your neck and shoulders.
The end result for Californians is not pleasant – forward head posture.
Top 5 Ways Californians can Avoid Bad Neck Posture while using their Cellphones
Hey Californians, ever feel like your neck is stuck in a perpetual nod from too much phone time?
Let’s dive into the top five ways to dodge forward neck posture while scrolling through your device. These are unconventional methods that most people do not use.
This is what I do to avoid straining my head or neck while scrolling through the cellphone:
I Make Use of a Stand:
While there are no dedicated cellphone stands unlike the ones you have to station laptop onto. So what I did instead was that I god hold of a cellphone stand meant for my car.
Instead of using it in my car, I placed the stand on my desk and firmly clasped my cellphone within its confines.
Now, whenever I need to scroll through my email or even watch a movie on my cellphone, I always have the screen adjusted to my eye-level.
You can try this out yourself. Heck, I even carry the car cell-stand with me wherever I travel.
I Like to Look Away every 10 Minutes:
So, the next step that I take in order to avoid buckling my shoulders and head while scrolling through the cellphone is “avoiding it”.
While I cannot avoid screen time as it is imperative for my business, I can however reduce it. So, every 10 minutes or so, I look away from the cellphone screen.
Then, I stand up (if I am sitting) and take a short stroll. I look around and observe everything around me. It just takes my mind off the cellphone.
So, if I am not doing anything important, I usually forget going back to my cellphone (problem solved!). If I am doing something important then, the 1 minute break every 10 minutes allow my eyes and neck muscles to relax.
I Maintain Optimal Posture at All Times:
Another method that I use to reduce unnecessary strain on my head and back muscles is to avoid losing my body’s natural posture. This is with special regards to my cervical spine.
So, I always sit up straight and avoid slouching. This is especially true when I am making use of my cell-phone. By making a conscious effort to maintain the natural curve of my spine, I am avoiding forward neck.
I Exercise Daily:
I firmly believe that exercise of all types (not necessarily those related to strengthening my cervical spine) are great for my neck and upper back muscles.
Nonetheless, I do indulge in exercises that are focused for the development of the neck and shoulder muscles. These may or may not include the use of weighted plates.
I Find an Excuse to Watch Less:
With so many apps making their way into my cellphone, it is very hard not to use them. Nonetheless, after realizing that I was indeed suffering from bad neck posture, I started to delete those that I did not need.
I was surprised to find that there were hardly any app that I needed to use. This really helped reduce my screen time. When I reduced the time scrolling through the cell phones, I automatically have my neck muscles the much needed rest.
Tip of the Day:
I have personally benefitted by finding a hobby. So, I like to play golf and this keeps me busy for over 4 hours every day. This means 4 hours less of screen time.
You can do the same. Find a hobby that shall keep you away from your cell phone without making you feel guilty.
Conclusion:
Text neck or turtle neck syndrome is spreading like the annual summer wildfire in California. While you simply cannot do without a cellphone these days, you can however make some changes to your Californian cell phone lifestyle.
I have mentioned these simple lifestyle changes in the above paragraphs. When you understand the link between your forward head posture and your cellphone usage, you shall be prompted to take corrective action.
So, next time you reach for your phone, remember to keep your head up—literally! Your neck will thank you.
References:
- https://www.neliti.com/publications/431181/effects-of-smartphone-addiction-on-sitting-neck-posture-hand-discomfort-a-cross
- https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/full/10.1142/S1013702518300010
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11056090/