What Texting Does to Your Spine

It's no surprise that billions of people today are using mobile devices to do just about everything. In the past, I've always disliked texting. And just so we're clear, I still really hate it. And yet, with more and more people who return my phone calls with a text, I've had no choice but to embrace the present and future way of communicating. Little do we all know the effects texting has on our health...

And so, I am now forced to rip the proverbial bandaid and initiate the free-flowing of mass tears in attempt to share with our tech-loving society what texting really does to our spine, specifically.

In case you may be reading this from your mobile device in typical "hunched over fashion", you're in for a wakeup call: Looking down to text or read on your phone can place up to 60 pounds of weight on your spine, according to a Surgical Technology International study on Stresses on the Cervical Spine Caused by Posture and Position of the Head.

Most of us spend two to four hours average per day hunched over our mobile devices and because of this scary statistic, I'm starting to realize the error of my assumed position and the less than favorable actions it is doing on my neck and back. The adult head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds which is also directly related to the amount of stress placed onto the spine when standing upright. According to the study, just a 15 degree forward tilt of the head can significantly increase the amount of stress (and weight) on the spine. In fact, at a mere 15 degrees, the amount of spinal stress is approximately 27 pounds and at 60 degrees it increases up to 60 pounds.

If we're being honest, it is probably unreasonable to suggest ditching the phone or tablet. But don't despair, I've got great news for you: There are ways to accomplish both tasks -- minimizing spinal damage while keeping a social life. Good posture is key, which means keeping a relaxed back and shoulder position (stop shrugging), pulling in the abdomen, placing both feet about hip distance apart and maintaining an equal distribution of weight on both feet.

What about texting thumb (pain in the thumbs caused by excessive texting)? We'll get to that later...

Source: Medical Information Pro