A recent study by Dr Hansray, which was published by Surgical Technology International, tried to find the amount of force applied on our cervical spine as the head is tilted forward into worsening cervical spine posture. And the results? Well, the force applied while in a ‘texting’ position can put up the strain on our neck as high as 27 kg.
It’s the position most of us use and see others do every day. Face down, palm up, while we check into Facebook or look up pictures on Instagram on our smartphones. It’s hard to believe any of this may be doing any physical harm…
The study shows that an average human head weighs around 4.5 to 5.5 kg. However, when the head is tilted forward at varying degrees, as do the amount of force and strain on the neck. At a maximal measurable head tilt, which in the study is 60 degrees (and a normal standard texting position for most people), the amount of force can be up to 27 kg of strain on the neck. As the study suggests most people spend on average 2 to 4 hours a day reading or texting on their smartphones, which is an extra 700 to 1400 hours of excess strain placed on the neck each year. As a result, these eventual stresses can lead to a loss of natural curves in the cervical spine and potentially cause early onset of wear, tear and degeneration.
Although there is not enough evidence that smartphone use itself can be a cause of neck problems, it can’t hurt to watch our posture the next time we scroll down our Facebook feed.
If you have any neck issues or general complaints, speak to one of our Osteopaths at Melbourne Osteohealth today!