The expansion of technology over the last few decades has brought along an expansion of a new problem for it’s users: tech neck. Even if you have never heard of this term before, you have very likely experienced this pain. Do you spend all day hunched over a computer at your desk job? Are you addicted to scrolling on your phone for hours at a time? If so, it may be time to start being conscious of the extra strain that you are putting on your body. Specifically, the strain you are putting on your head, neck, and shoulders. Let’s discuss a few different strategies that you can use to combat tech neck, and how massage can aid you in your journey back to those pre-technology days!
What is Tech Neck?
As a relatively new term, “tech neck” refers to a musculoskeletal issue developed when people constantly look down at their various devices with poor posture, causing some degree of neck, shoulder, and even back pain. Research completed around 2021 suggests that almost half of the population suffered from tech neck related issues.
How can doing something that seems so harmless (texting, scrolling, or even just working) hurt so many people? Well, when you think about it, did you realize that your head is around 10 to 12 pounds by itself? If you are looking down at your cell phone, laptop, or other devices for more than a few hours each day, this can easily throw your upper spine and the surrounding soft tissue and ligaments out of whack! So, while we work on cutting back on our screentime…what can we do to combat this horrid neck pain?
What You Can Do
There are a good handful of options for you to try on your own to relieve the tech neck pain. Additionally, there is one trendy “DIY pain relief” strategy used by people around the globe that you need to avoid.
Self-Care: Try This
It may seem obvious or sound silly, but genuinely just reminding yourself to be conscious of your posture at any given moment can work wonders. If needed, set reminders in your phone for once or twice an hour to stand (or sit) up straight. Remember to not beat yourself up. We are creatures of comfort and slumping is natural!
Another tip is to take breaks. Not only will this help your neck, but may improve your focus and help your eyes rest as well. Do a light stretch and take a 5-10 minute walk, if you can. Or, if your schedule allows, work on strengthening your shoulders, spine, and neck by visiting yoga, Pilates, or swimming classes!
What You Need to Avoid
As mentioned above, we are creatures of comfort. As creatures of comfort, we also crave simplicity and instant gratification. You may be thinking to yourself, “I could just grab my massage gun, use it for 5 minutes every few days, and say goodbye to my neck pain!” We are here to advise you to not do this.
While massage guns can bring relief for some, you need to be very careful about where you use them on your body. On either side of your neck, you have your carotid arteries. These are the main arteries that move oxygen rich blood from your heart to your brain. Using a massage gun, or any kind of percussive therapy, over an artery can temporarily limit blood flow to your brain and cause you to have a mini-stroke or stroke like symptoms. It’s best to do your research and talk to a professional when seeking relief for specific areas of your body.
Visit Muscle Anthropology for More Relief
Whether it’s tech neck, “computer slouching,” or something completely different, come see us for some professional massage relief at Muscle Anthropology. We strive to bring you results that last. With a combination of following the tips listed in this blog and a routine massage schedule with our team, you are sure to kiss your tech neck goodbye!