Is Looking at Your Phone Causing Neck Pain?

Do you spend a lot of time looking down at your phone?

If you answered yes, you aren’t alone! According to ZD Net, the average Americans spends a little over 5 hours a day on their cell phone.

So, the amount of time you spend looking down at you phone may cause neck pain. It’s one of the most common reasons I see patients for neck pain. Often, patients have a job that puts them in front of a laptop or monitor for a good portion of the day. This is a postural challenge on its own. But, when you add time looking down at your phone during your breaks or when you are relaxing at home, it is going to catch up with you.

How will I know if my neck pain is associated with looking down at my phone? 

Well, it is hard to know if your neck pain is associated with looking down at our phone. Sometimes it is easy and you get instant pain when looking down at the phone. Most times, the pain is delayed and you may feel it at other points in the day. This can make it confusing to identify. 

If I think my neck pain is being caused by looking down at my phone, what can I do?

HOLD IT UP. Bring your arms up so that your neck is in a neutral position meaning, your eyes should be looking straight forward as much as possible. Yes, your shoulders will get tired. So, use a laptop or monitor for anything that is extensive or time consuming. 

But, there are easier positions to hold the phone if we are sitting. You can put a pillow or bolster on your lap to help support your arms and lift the screen up to eye level.

Can looking down at my phone cause damage to my neck and back?

Looking down at your phone for prolonged periods will cause increased postural stress on the neck muscles and the vertebral discs. This can also lead to headaches that are triggered by tight muscles called tension headaches.

How do I know if I should seek help for my neck pain?

It’s time to seek help if… your neck pain has lasted more than 3-4 days, your neck pain is waking you up at night, your neck hurts when standing up from a lying down position.

Learn More!

If you would like to explore whether taping is an option for you, call us at (203) 580-3232.

Find information here about what to expect during your first visit. Initial visits last one hour so that we have time to thoroughly assess your complaints and determine the best course of action. This initial evaluation helps us to determine the specific cause of your symptoms. From there, we can develop a unique treatment plan tailored to helping you heal as quickly as possible. 

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