Smartphones are causing a 'text neck' epidemic that could lead to permanent spinal damage, according to new research by US surgeon Dr Kenneth Hansraj. The study reveals that angling the head down to look at a phone increases stress on the neck, with a 60-degree angle placing up to 60lb of effective weight on the spine.
With users spending an average of two to four hours daily hunched over their devices, this results in 700 to 1,400 hours of excess cervical spine stress per year. Symptoms include head, neck and arm pain, as well as numbness, warns Sammy Margo of the UK's Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Margo advises using voice recognition, making phone calls, taking regular breaks and altering texting positions to mitigate risks. The NHS Live Well website also recommends exercises such as gently lengthening the neck while tucking in the chin.
This is not the first warning about tech-related ailments; previous concerns include 'Blackberry thumb' and 'iPad hand', highlighting a growing list of conditions linked to modern devices.
