Gadgets have taken their place in every aspect of our lives but what we do not realise is that although they have made life much easier, there are side effects to them. Like over dependence, addiction, etc. In this long list of side effects is a new affliction called text necks. It is a term used to describe neck pain and damage sustained from looking down at the cell phone, tablet or other wireless devices too frequently, and for too long. And many city folk are complaining about their stiff necks.
A city-based entrepreneur started getting a stiff neck when he spent too much time on his phone. Mithun Stephen explains, “I have a tendency to look down at my phone/laptop for a long period of time, and it sometimes gives me a stiffness in the neck. I counter it by giving myself a break from whatever I am doing. I also practice some basic forms of yoga/neck exercises to help relax the muscles in my neck. Taking a walk for two minutes, and coming back to my chair also helps.”
Ramya Sundaram has tried various remedies to reduce the pain in her neck. She says, “I tend to look down at the phone or my i-Pad for a long time throughout the day. So after a period of time, my shoulder and neck hurts, and it gets difficult to continue working. I try and massage it, to get some relief or sometimes even pain killers work.”
Preran Chowdary, a team manager, says his profession is one of the main reasons one keeps focused on laptops and phones, “Using your mobile phone to chat or browse makes the angle of the head and neck create a strain. I have a strain at the end of the day, which leaves me in pain, and also stressed. To mitigate this, I follow a few basic steps. I go to the gym and maintain my fitness regime, I do neck exercises by stretching and strengthening muscles. I take regular breaks and relax my neck by looking up straight, and doing basic stretches like rotating the neck. When at home, I try lie down in a posture that doesn’t put pressure on my neck or back.”
Spine specialist Dr Vidyadhara S says, “The human body needs movement in the neck and back in every direction. We have a tendency not to do this. This causes stiffness in neck and back, and once in a while when we look up or do any jerky movement, it can cause neck injury or sprains. If one wants to avoid this, exercising the neck is necessary. Anything in excess is not good for the body.
Sitting on the bed or sofa in slouched postures can also cause this. People can first reduce the use of gadgets, keep the neck and back flexible through yoga and swimming.”
