Your Head Weighs 10 Pounds...So Why Does It Feel Like 60?

"Tech neck" is a common phrase used in health care, but how does it work, and what effects is it really having on your neck and health? The human head weighs 10-12 pounds, but when held at an angle that weight can end up exerting up to 60 pounds of force, ~6 times as much. If you have something with a little bit of weight to it, go ahead and lift it straight up overhead and see how that feels. Now go ahead and hold it out a little bit in front of you, and feel how much harder that is. The most common angle the neck is held at today, usually looking down at a phone, is 45 degrees which averages out to the head exerting ~49 pounds of force on the muscles of the neck. The average person in America today spends around 5 hours a day looking down at their phone, and this constant force can fatigue extensor muscles, shorten flexor muscles, over-stretch ligaments, compress discs, and affect the natural curvature/alignment of the neck. These effects can lead to soreness, stiffness, muscle spasm, and sometimes even nerve root irritation. The simplest solution to this is to unplug more often, but that isn't always convenient, and may not be a realistic approach. Some alternatives then are instead of bringing your head to your screen, bring the screen to you. Hold your arm up so that you don't have to look down to your phone. Adjust the height of your desk chair or the height of your desk to let yourself look more straight on at your computer monitor. Take breaks from looking at the screen to move your neck around. All these things can help lessen the strain on your neck, and promote a healthier lifestyle. For more questions and a more personalized plan, talk to one of our providers today!.