There are some major drawbacks to our overuse of technology. The constant texting and overall cell phone/tablet use is taking it’s toll on the body – specifically the neck and shoulders.
I am thrilled to work with a fabulous chiropractor (Dr Paul Collett) that helps me to “keep my head on straight” (and my family)! He focuses on the specific alignment of the head on the top of the spine (technically, the axis and atlas), and I have found this to be wonderful at keeping my whole body in alignment.
In today’s society, many people are seeking the proverbial “fountain of youth.” Not only are they hoping for longevity, but they’re on a mission to live a wrinkle-free life. However, there’s an irony for those obtaining skin-saving information from their mobile devices, and it’s something that experts warn against if people want to maintain their taut, youthful-looking appearance.
Quite simply, put down those mobile devices if it’s better skin you’re after.
Dermatologists are saying that excessive use of mobile devices is creating the very changes in appearance that many are attempting to avoid in the first place, a term dubbed “tech neck.” Too much time on these devices, in which the head and neck are continuously held in a downward position, makes skin more prone to dropping.(1)
They also say that neck wrinkles are more likely to develop among heavy mobile device users. Both the drooping and neck wrinkling is most common in people aged 18 to 39 who own an average of three devices.(1)
Chances are, you’re a “tech neck” candidate
“The problem of wrinkles and sagging of the jowls and neck used to begin in late middle age but, in the last 10 years, because of ‘tech neck’, it has become a problem for a generation of younger women,” said Dr. Christopher Rowland Payne, a consultant dermatologist at The London Clinic. He explains that women in particular are especially prone to changes in their skin since it’s already compromised due to wearing lower neck lines that expose more skin area to the sun. He said, “This is bad news for neck skin as it starts off finer and sun thins it further. Finer skin wrinkles more readily and the fat of the neck may sag.”(1)
Dean Nathanson is another expert who warns of tech neck. As Managing Director of CACI international, which is involved in non-surgical facelifts, he has said, “We’ve identified a correlation between the rise of technology in recent years and the growth of the ‘Techneck’, so while there is little chance of the nation giving up technology, at least we can help people reduce wrinkles and keep their chin up!” He also said that “hectic everyday lives mean that keeping one’s head down, be it buried in work emails or in an e-reader, is completely the norm” and that an awareness of this can help reduce wrinkles and sagging.(2)
From cancers to excess force on the spine, mobile devices are problematic
It’s no secret that the use of this technology can wreak havoc on health, internally as well as externally.
In fact, cell phones and similar technologies have been linked to increases in certain cancers, such as in salivary glands and the brain.(3)
More recently, it’s been discovered that too much time on mobile devices can impact posture and be harmful to the spine.
In a study published in Surgery Technology International titled, “Assessment of Stresses in the Cervical Spine Caused by Posture and Position of the Head,” it was found that “incrementally moving the head forward” wreaks havoc on the spine. The study notes the following:
People spend an average of two to four hours a day with their heads tilted over reading and texting on their smart phones and devices. Cumulatively this is 700 to 1400 hours a year of excess stresses seen about the cervical spine. It is possible that a high school student may spend an extra 5,000 hours in poor posture.(4)
The finding is one that serves to help cervical spine surgeons and the general public be more in tune to the changes that are likely taking place in the body due to the use of such technologies.
Loss of the natural curve of the cervical spine leads to incrementally increased stresses about the cervical spine. These stresses may lead to early wear, tear, degeneration, and possibly surgeries. While it is nearly impossible to avoid the technologies that cause these issues, individuals should make an effort to look at their phones with a neutral spine and to avoid spending hours each day hunched over.(4)
Shockingly, the researchers discovered that one’s neck position was related to the amount of extra weight put on their spine; a 15 degree bend meant 27 pounds of pressure, while a 60 degree bend looking down at a mobile device meant that 60 pounds of force was being applied.(4)
Suddenly, checking late-night work emails or browsing craft ideas on Pinterest isn’t as appealing, is it?
References:
(2) https://www.dailymail.co.uk
(3) https://www.mayoclinic.org
