Are You Suffering from "Text Neck?"

A lot of people; both kids and adults, are spending their Christmas break hunched over their shiny, new electronic devices. From smart phones to Kindles to video games, electronics were big gifts once again this year. But as technology continues to evolve and increase in popularity, so has a physical ailment now being referred to as "text neck."

While it's not really a new complaint, it is starting to affect younger and younger people. While a common complaint for those who at a computer, or read, for a long period of time , you now see people walking around or sitting down bent over. They're leaning forward and the farther they lean forward the worse it is on the neck.

For every inch your head moves forwards, it gains 10 pounds in weight, as far as the muscles in your upper back and neck are concerned. This is because they have to work that much harder to keep the head (chin) from dropping onto your chest. A head in forward posture can add up to thirty pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine. This can pull the entire spine out of alignment. When you bend over for long periods of time, you can lose the natural curve in your neck. Symptoms of text neck can be just a pain in the neck, but it can also include head aches, pain that runs down the arm, pain in the upper back and pain in the sides of the neck.

Dr. Michael A. Dorn, Jr., DC says "stretching frequently can be helpful, as well as taking frequent breaks from your electronics." While the perfect solution would be to give up these devices altogether, it is unrealistic that people will just stop using their smart phone or laptop. Just remember that constant, daily use may not be a good thing, especially for those who are "wired in" on more than one device. "Just remind yourself to take a break now and again," Dr. Dorn says.

If you are experiencing pain for more than three days, and you think that you might be suffering from text neck, give our office a call at Baltimore Back and Pain Center. Dr. Dorn will properly diagnose the source of your pain, rule out more serious medical conditions, prescribe an effective non-surgical treatment plan that will work to alleviate your pain. We offer convenient appointment times and are located off of I-83 in Hampden, MD. Call the office today at 410-662-4476 for your free chiropractic evaluation. You can also request an appointment online.

Holiday Gift Wrapping and Your Back

Over the years, we have seen patients at Baltimore Back and Pain Center who came to our office in acute pain due to sitting on the floor and wrapping lots of presents over the holidays. Nothing takes the joy out of the holidays faster than being in pain. So, this year we decided that we would put together some gift wrapping tips for you for this holiday season.

Having a work surface at a height where you can comfortably sit, with good posture, is a big plus. Keep all of your materials within arm's reach and avoid hunching over your work-space while you wrap. Since there is no "ideal" position for gift wrapping, the most important thing to remember is to vary your position. For example, stand at a table or desk for one present, sit on a bed for another, sit in a comfortable chair for the next and head back to the table, or a countertop and start again. It might take a little extra time, but it will be worth it.

Wrapping gifts usually requires a good deal of space and the floor is usually one of the first choices. But the one thing not to do is to wrap your presents while sitting on the floor. Wrapping gifts while sitting on a hard floor can wreak havoc on your posture, and should be avoided. Kneeling or sitting on the same plane causes you to bend a lot. And you typically have to stretch and hold the bent position for extended periods of time. This puts a great deal of stress on the neck and low back. Avoid the floor at all costs!

Another great tip is to always stretch before and after you wrap gifts to relieve the strain on your back, neck and shoulders. When wrapping presents, it's a good idea to stretch the opposites. In other words, if you are leaning forward when wrapping your presents, stretch backward when you are done.

Take your time, don't overdo it, put on some festive music and relax. Should you experience pain, or an injury that lasts for more than a few days, please call us at 410-662-4476 to schedule an appointment for a free evaluation. We offer convenient hours in our Hampden office.

The faster you heal, the easier it will be to enjoy the holiday season! Happy Holidays from Dr. Michael A. Dorn, Jr., DC and the staff at Baltimore Back and Pain Center!