By now most of us will have heard of “text neck” – a modern day condition where the cervical spine is affected by excessive mobile phone use. But what level of damage are our “heads down generation” actually risking?
The adult human head typically weighs between 10 and 12 lb and this weight equates to far greater volumes as the head tilts forward. The muscles, ligaments and tendons are all put under pressure when holding the head at a forwards angle, which explains why excessive mobile phone use is largely responsible for many neck complaints.
To highlight the reality of this…
A head that is tilted 15 degrees forward may equate to 27 lbs and a head that is tilted 30 degrees forward may put the same strain on the neck as a 40lb head!
Maybe the term “get your head straight” is more apt than ever…