Addicted to Facebook, WhatsApp on phone? Beware of ‘Text Neck’!

Bengaluru: Constantly staying in touch with your family and friends over phone, sadly, comes with a price. The urge to keep one’s Facebook page updated and the Whatsapp group humoured has caused a new spinal condition called “Text Neck”, or Technology Neck.

It is caused when people spend too much time looking down at their phones or tablets, causing strain on the neck that leads to various problems including herniated discs, headaches and neurological issues.

“Technological innovations over the last 8-10 years have brought about musculo-skeletal condition, affecting the muscles, tendons and nerves. One of the earliest was ‘Blackberry Thumb’ and now it is this,” says Dr Hemant K. Kalyan, Consultant and Head, Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Manipal Hospitals.

“People who use their cellphones excessively are more prone to suffer from neck and spine-related problems. They are so engrossed with various applications on their phones that they are not conscious of their sitting or standing position and type away furiously peering into cellphone screens,” he says.

Addressing this issue requires awareness and attention Dr Arjun Srivatsa, Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon, Columbia Asia Hospitals, says. “It is characterised by headaches, pain in the upper back, shoulder and neck, as well as increased curvature of the spine. Text Neck, if left untreated, can even lead to spinal degenerative problems, such as disc compression and disc prolapse. In the long term, Text Neck can also lead to spinal arthritis. Other symptoms include loss of power of grip, poor concentration, disturbed sleep pattern and increased twitching of the neck and shoulders,” he says.

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