Many adults develop “tech neck” from long hours looking at phones and computer screens. American adults spend five to six hours every day on their phones on average, and this plus work time makes forward head posture common.
Tech neck happens when people lean their heads forward and keep neck and shoulder muscles active for long periods. Symptoms include difficulty concentrating, headaches and missed work. In some people hunching can also cause numbness or balance problems.
Experts advise better posture: sit with ankles, knees, hips and elbows at 90 degrees. Prop a phone up, raise a laptop on books and use a remote keyboard. Change position every 20 minutes and do short stretches like chin tucks, an "open book" side stretch, rows with a band and doorway stretches.
Difficult words
- posture — position of the head and body when sittingforward head posture
- symptom — a sign that something is wrong in the bodySymptoms
- hunch — to bend the back and shoulders forwardhunching
- numbness — loss of feeling in part of the body
- stretch — a simple exercise that moves muscles gentlystretches
- concentrate — to give full attention to one thingconcentrating
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Discussion questions
- How many hours a day do you use your phone or computer?
- Do you change position when you work? Why or why not?
- Which stretch from the article would you try and why?
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