Text Neck: Looking Down at Devices for Way Too Long

Abstract

Text Neck is a diagnosed condition denoting overuse of the neck muscles with technology devices such as tablets, smartphones, and video game consoles [1, p. 141] . The condition is prevalent in all age groups, particularly in those who are heavy users of smartphones [2] , [3] , [4] . The main contributor to text neck is the frequency of handheld technology device use and the length of time that a user is engaged with their device without physical movement, while their head is in a forward posture [5] . It is said to be a type of repetitive stress injury that can affect the spine, neck, shoulder, upper back, muscles, and associated ligaments [6] . Although studies vary in their findings, adults use their mobile phones on average for 5 hours per day, university students for about 8.5 hours per day, and others on average about 2 hours per day [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] . Some studies have shown that people have their mobile phones with them for all but 2 hours of the whole day, increasing the ease with which to access online applications, thus continuing to aggravate existing strains. Text Neck, also referred to as iNeck, is now recognized as a global public health problem [11] .