Is Technology Affecting Your Spine?

The role that technology plays in our roles is not just important, it’s constant. Think about all of the time that you spend on your computer working or looking at your cell phone. You’ll notice that technology impacts your day to day life, but have you ever considered your spine health in all of this? Here are a few ways that technology today is impacting you spine tomorrow, and how Absolute Wellness Center in Linn Creek, MO can help.


“Text Neck”

If you’re reading this blog on your phone, take a moment to consider the position that you’re sitting in - don’t move! Most likely, you’re holding your device down in your lap or at chest level (unless it’s over your face while reading in bed ;). What position is your head in? How is your neck angled? Chances are that you have your head tilted downward so that your eyes can meet the screen. This may not seem like a big deal, but the long-term effects of this position have a diagnosis. While some call it “text neck” or “computer neck” it’s official name is Forward Head Posture.

Chronic Neck & Shoulder Pain

Forward head posture causes numerous challenges in the body. The vertebrae are positioned in an unnatural way for a long period of time which means that your spine, nerves, and circulation are constantly adjusting against the force of gravity. This can be incredibly irritating to you body, and even have long-term posture and health consequences. You’ll find that many people who experience chronic neck and shoulder pain also work a 9-5 job at a computer.

Lowering Productivity

There have been studies that tested workplace productivity against mentally strenuous activity. The latter was often found to induce Forward Head Posture which then decreased productivity over time due to pain and discomfort. This means that constant use and interaction with a computer, tablet, or another form of information technology can bring about Forward head Posture and that it is a physiological position with the body often assumes.

Carpal Tunnel

The nervous system is the motherboard of your body. It controls everything that happens, and while it may seem that something like carpal tunnel isn’t cause from your spine - they are all interconnected. Bones and joints are a passive system. They do nothing on their own, so they can’t be the root of a problem. Your muscles are part of an active system, but they also cannot act on their own. The nervous system, however, it is the control system and nothing takes place in your body without the nervous system initiating and approving it. How does that affect the rest of your body? If your spine (which houses much of your nervous system) is mal-positioned, perhaps it could be affecting even your wrist. There have even been studies that who a correlation between FHP (forward head posture) and carpal tunnel.

Lower Back Pain 

Finally, keeping your head in a forward position for long periods of time can put a tremendous strain on the whole body. This also includes your lower back. The Psoas major and minor muscles attach to your femur and then extend upwards through your pelvis. Long-term FHP can actually send these muscles into frequent spasm, causing chronic lower back pain, which then can cost you comfort, mobility, and time. If you're experiencing lower back pain at the Lake of the Ozarks, we would like to help.


What Can You Do About It?

There are exercises that you can do to help combat the effect of long-term forward head posture. There are position likes “pigeon neck” where you reverse the action of text neck by pulling your chin toward the ceiling and letting your head sit between your shoulders. You may also realize when sitting at a computer that your shoulders naturally slump forward. You can do chest opening exercises where you place your hands behind your head, open your elbows out to the side, and squeeze your shoulder blades back. Exercises can help temporarily relieve pain associated with frequent technology uses.

The best thing you can do for your body, though, in the long term is to let us readjust your spinal position. When you feel discomfort and pain, it’s your body’s way of screaming to you that something needs to be adjusted and changed. Schedule and appoint for a chiropractic adjustment at the Lake of the Ozarks today. We’d love to start you on an initial visit where we talk about your body, what it’s experiencing, and also run some tests to see what exactly is happening in your nervous system. It’s time to start your journey to absolute wellness.




Absolute Wellness Center Inc
4203 E US Hwy 54
Linn Creek, MO 65052
573-346-3777
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Location: Linn Creek, MO 65052, USA

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