Exclaiming that your smartphone can sometimes be a “real pain in the neck” has never been truer. Text neck is a condition that is caused by lowering your head so you can send texts, surf social media, or check out prospective dates on Tinder. Lowering your head adds considerable pressure on your spine which can lead to wear and tear, degeneration, and even surgery. Looking straight ahead, your gourd puts about 10 to 12 pounds of pressure on your spine. At a 15 degree tilt, the pressure increases to 27 pounds, 30 degree downward tilt and we’re talking 40 pounds of extra pressure, 45 degrees and the pressure on your spine is up to 49 pounds. At a 60 degree tilt, you are putting on a whopping 50 additional pounds of pressure on your spine compared to when your head is screwed on straight. I am not suggesting we abolish smartphones but we do need to be careful how we use them. My thumbs already hurt from typing this message

The above study was conducted by Kenneth Hansraj, MD, and was published in Surgical Technology International (2014).