"Text neck” refers to the bent neck position people often adopt when using phones or tablets, which can put extra strain on the neck.
But is it a legit medical concern or just a trendy health buzzword?
Here’s everything you need to know:
Just type “text neck” or “tech neck” online, and you’ll be shocked to see the warnings.
The idea is pretty much simple and straightforward: excessive phone use is linked to neck pain, potentially causing long-term damage like chronic issues.
Postural problems and spinal degeneration due to prolonged screen time.
Stats show people spend around 4 hours and 37 minutes on phones daily, with daily screen time increasing by 7.9 percent since 2013.
Biomechanically, it makes sense why the term “text neck” caught on: tilt your head forward by 60 degrees, and the effective weight on your neck rises from about 5 kg to more than 27 kg, imposing more stress on the cervical spine and surrounding structures.
Research suggests a strong link between heavy smartphone use and musculoskeletal pain, with 50-84 percent of users experiencing neck, shoulder, or upper back discomfort.
Studies also show that up to 70 percent of children who spend 5-8 hours daily on screens report neck pain.
According to Professor Jan Hartvigsen, one of the world’s leading spinal pain researchers, “text neck” isn’t a real medical condition but rather a buzzword.
He argues that the evidence is weak, often based on small studies, self-reported surveys, or designs that can’t prove cause and effect.
Neck pain is a legitimate concern, especially for office workers and students.
To eradicate it, experts suggest taking regular breaks from prolonged sitting and staying active outside of work.
Prof. Hartvigsen emphasizes that neck pain has many causes, including stress, sleep, and prolonged sitting, and can’t be blamed completely on phone use.
“The neck is a strong structure, shaped by millions of years of evolution. It’s not particularly vulnerable."
Trauma from car accidents, violence, or contact sports can injure the neck, but everyday activities usually don’t,” he noted.
In addition, his team’s recent systematic review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine analyzed over 100 studies and found no evidence that neck pain is increasing among young people, despite their unprecedented levels of screen time.
“Text neck” might be a catchy term, but the science supporting it as a distinct medical condition is still uncertain.
