Increase in smartphone penetration in SA leads to 'Text Neck'

Dr Robert Delgado, Principal Chiropractor at Delgado Chiropractic and Wellness Expert.

Preventing wear-and-tear on the spine.

Internet connections via smartphones in South Africa increased from 23 million in 2014 to 28 million in 2015 and are expected to grow to 34 million by 2016, according to the PwC's recently released Entertainment and Media Outlook 2015-2019 report. With increased usage of smartphones, South Africans are increasingly placing themselves at risk of poor posture, degeneration and early wear-and-tear on the spine.

This is according to Dr Robert Delgado, Principal Chiropractor at Delgado Chiropractic and Wellness Expert, who says that text neck, which is the result of being exposed to extended periods of abnormal and positional stress, caused by looking down at electronic devices, can be detrimental to health, as it changes and misaligns the cervical spine. He warns that text neck is linked to repetitive strain injuries to the neck and upper back.

Dr Delgado explains that as much as technology is an essential part of modern life, so too is it important that people fully understand the consequences of its overuse, especially in children. “When looking down at a phone, the head is tilted 15 degrees. The weight of the head can triple and the increase in force can cause neck pain, shoulder tension, headaches, fatigue and eventually accelerate the degeneration of spinal joints and discs. Overtime the soft tissues may also adapt to this incorrect position, causing a stooped over posture.

“Consider the difference in brain development when a child is playing in the sand or with a box or ball, compared to pushing buttons on a screen. A child’s brain develops with the physical engagement he or she has with the object he or she is playing with. Therefore crawling, climbing and running are essential to healthy brain development and should be encouraged all the time.”

He further explains that if a child stares at a screen, he or she is completely passive. “An immature brain and nervous system is not designed to cope with the excessive sensory stimulation received from electronic devices. Added to this, the movement and alignment of the spine has the most effect on brain development, which is why spinal alignment and posture is a critical part of health. Spinal joints which don’t move correctly begin to degenerate and spinal damage can develop slowly over time without any apparent symptoms.”

Dr Delgado reassures, however, that it is never too late to improve spinal health. “With the help of an expert, almost anybody can improve his or her posture and spinal alignment with regular checkups. The earlier issues are picked up, the easier they are to correct. Therefore, regular checks - just as you would check teeth – are the best way to prevent and detect damage, naturally correct abnormal alignment and restore healthy spinal movement.”

He provides the following tips to smartphone users on how best to hold the posture when texting, and the necessary exercises to minimise the impact of text neck:

1. Be mindful on the time spent when looking down at a cellphone or tablet;
2. Lift the device closer to eye level and ensure the head is not tilted too far forward;
3. Move as often as possible. Get up off your chair and move the spine through all its different ranges of motion. This will stimulate the nervous system and hydrate the joints and discs;
4. Get your spine assessed by a chiropractor to detect if issues are developing;
5. Implement the following exercises into your daily regime to maintain spinal motion and alignment:

- Rotate the head to the left and to the right;
- Tilt the ear towards the left and right shoulder;
- Roll the shoulders as follows; hunch both shoulders forward slightly, lift both shoulders towards the ears, roll shoulders back as far as possible, gently slide shoulder blades down along the spine; and
- Bring ears in line with the shoulder by imagining a helium balloon in the head, relax the neck muscles and allowing the balloon to lift your head up and back. The gentle lengthening of the muscles at the top of the neck should be felt.

If you have any spinal pain or injuries please see a spinal health professional before doing these exercises. Dr Robert Delgado, Principal Chiropractor at Delgado Chiropractic and Wellness Expert, will be speaking at a complimentary event at his practice in Sea point on the 6th of October at 6pm discussing natural ways to improve Spinal and overall health. To book your spot please contact Jodie on 021 200 6295 or email [email protected] .