SAN ANTONIO, June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- San Antonio chiropractic clinic wants to make area residents aware of an increasingly common occupational hazard, as well as the treatment methods the clinic offers to treat it. According to Dr. Donald Phillips of Dr. Phillips Chiropractic Nutrition and Wellness, a condition commonly known as text neck is a frequent consequence of maintaining an unhealthy head position while consulting mobile devices or other digital monitors. "We want people to understand that their own everyday ergonomic behaviors are the cause of that nagging neck pain and stiffness they may be experiencing. We also want to tell them that they can get relief from this discomfort through conservative care alone," says Dr. Phillips.
Text neck has been described as a form of chronic neck strain caused by holding the head at an unnatural angle, typically drooping forward, for long periods of time. As described by WebMD, the normal 10 to 12 pounds of the head places the equivalent of 27 pounds of load on the neck once it assumes a 15-degree forward tilt. This pressure extends up to 60 pounds when the head reaches a 60-degree tilt.
Dr. Phillips notes that many users of handheld digital devices routinely assume such positions as they read emails scan the Web and compose texts, hence the term "text neck." "It's very easy to become engrossed in what you're doing so that you don't even realize what an unnatural and uncomfortable position your head is in," he says. "Unfortunately, over time this causes chronic strain in the muscles that support the neck, leaving you with pain and stiffness." The chiropractor adds that long-term cases of text neck may also cause cervical spinal alignment problems, from pinched nerves and herniated discs to loss of the natural curvature of the neck.
The phenomenon has received an increasing amount of press in recent years. The New York Times has referred to text neck as an "epidemic" that puts 58 percent of smartphone users at risk for painful neck problems. Dr. Phillips points out that similar problems may arise for desktop computer users who have place their monitors too low for viewing at a comfortable head angle.
Treatment for text neck can usually be managed through conservative care techniques such as chiropractic adjustment. According to Dr. Phillips, adjustments to the cervical spine can correct alignment problems caused by text neck. His clinic also offers massage therapy to loosen muscle tightness and ease muscle spasms.
"The best approach to text neck is prevention," says Dr. Phillips. "We can teach patients how to adopt healthier postures when using their digital devices."
About the Chiropractor: Dr. Phillips Chiropractic Nutrition and Wellness provides non-invasive health, wellness, and physical rehabilitation services for San Antonio, Texas. The clinic directs further inquiries to its main office at (210) 545-1144 or by visiting their website at https://drphillipschiro.com/