After BlackBerry Thumb, a neologism referring to the repetitive strain injury (RSI) of the thumb caused by frequent button-pressing on smartphones or mobile devices, comes the term Text Neck (also known as iNeck Pain) to describe the repeated traumatic injury and neck pain caused by extensive use of portable devices such as mobile phones or tablets, as the user bends forward for long periods to type or read messages or browse the Internet.
Consider that the human head weighs approximately 5 kg, a weight that increases dramatically the more you bend forward. Indicatively, at 15°, the load your neck must support becomes 12 kg, and at 60° it shoots up to 27! It’s as if you were carrying an 8–9-year-old child on your shoulders for several hours a day — just to give you a sense of scale.
Common symptoms associated with Text Neck include:
- Pain in the neck, upper back, or shoulders, which may be intense and localized or diffuse across the area.
- Forward tilt of the head and shoulders.
- Limited mobility of the neck, upper back, and shoulders.
- Headaches that tend to become chronic. The muscles in the neck contract and often transfer the pain toward the head.
How to Relieve Your Strained Neck
Before visiting a specialist, you can follow simple tips:
- Lift your mobile phone up to eye level so you don’t have to bend your neck excessively.
- Put your phone aside for a while to rest the muscles in the area. If needed, even set reminders at regular intervals.
- Stand upright: chin in, shoulders back.
- Exercise regularly: A strong back and strong neck can manage repetitive stresses in the area more effectively.
If, however, there is no improvement, a visit to the clinic is necessary for proper diagnosis and effective treatment.
Medical Treatment
In cases of acute pain, painkillers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory medications are prescribed, and short-term immobilization with a soft collar may be recommended to support the neck and relieve pain. When the pain begins to subside, it is important to gradually perform moderate-intensity exercises under the guidance of a physiotherapist.
Massage therapy, ultrasound, TENS, and acupuncture are also recommended for relieving the area. Acupuncture may also have a protective effect, as can O₃ (ozone) injections in the region.
For persistent pain, your doctor may administer corticosteroid injections near the nerve roots of the cervical spine or local anesthetics such as lidocaine.
If Left Untreated…
If untreated, Text Neck can lead to inflammation of the neck muscles, ligaments, and nerves, and even to disc hernias with nerve root compression or permanent arthritic damage in the area — in which case surgical intervention may be required.