Do you Have Tech Neck?

Recently, Scientific Reports published a shocking paper which found a “horn” growing off theback of the head of kids who spent a great deal of time on their cell phones and tablets. Thisextreme variation of Tech Neck is suspected to be caused by constant pressure placed on theback of the head (the occiput) when the head is bent forward and chin is tucked. The excessiveforce can result in calcification of the soft tissue, which can start to look like a “horn” growing outof the back of the head! Did you know...

• Kids may be spending up to 1400 hours per year in positions that cause tech neck.
• Even 15 degrees of forward tilt can triple the weight of the head and stress on the spine.
• Taking a break from mobile devices every 15 minutes can help reduce the likelihood of neck pain and headaches.

Next Steps:

• Spending time on your favorite devices doesn’t mean that you start growing horns tomorrow.However, it does give an example of how and why we need to be smart about our posture andpositioning when using our mobile devices. Encouraging your children to take a break andstretch is one of the best (and easiest) ways to break the bad habits that can lead to Tech Neck.If you have any questions, just ask! ‍

Science Source:

• Prominent exostosis projecting from the occipital squama more substantial and prevalent inyoung adult than older age groups. Scientific Reports 2018

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