Looking down at a cell phone is the equivalent of placing a 60-pound weight on one’s neck.
Image from Surgical Technology
A new study suggests that looking down at a cell phone is the equivalent of placing a 60-pound weight on one’s neck.
Sixty pounds is roughly the weight of four adult-sized bowling balls. Or six plastic grocery bags worth of food. Or an 8-year-old.
It is also, according to a new calculation published in the journal Surgical Technology International, the amount of force exerted on the head of an adult human who is looking down at her phone.
The average person spends about an hour on their smartphones each day. Unless you train yourself to stare straight ahead into your phone’s screen, you could be continually stressing your spine. The result of these additional stresses on your neck may result in may lead to early wear, tear, degeneration, and possibly surgeries. It is also a common cause of neck pain and headaches.
Chiropractors have been warning about the dangers of “Text Neck” for years. To avoid problems, raise your device when looking at them and have your spine checked to ensure there is no permanent damage.
