Few people these days don’t use their “smart” phone on a regular basis to perform a host of work-related tasks, for entertainment, and yes, to receive the occasional phone call! The average usage time of these portable devices has increased significantly over the past decade. Indeed, recent statistics highlight an average use of our phones ranging from 90 minutes to 5 hours per day!
This change in our lifestyle could have a significant negative impact on several aspects of our health, among other things, your phone could be the main culprit of your headaches.
Indeed, one of the pernicious effects of prolonged use of our phones is the major impact on our posture. Look around you today at how people who use their phones have their heads bent forward and their backs and shoulders hunched. It’s obvious, you can’t miss it! This poor posture can lead to what is called Text Neck Syndrome, which is irritation of the muscle, joint, and nerve structures in the neck caused by prolonged or repeated postural stress. This irritation can obviously cause neck pain, but also be directly responsible for headaches called cervicogenic headaches.
To limit the impact of using your phone, here are some tips:
- Make more use of a well-fitting desktop computer to get your work done when available
- Install an application on your phone to monitor your usage time (you will be surprised (!!) and become more aware of your overuse)
- Over time, our posture sags without our realizing it. Take regular breaks of a few minutes (or even a few seconds!) to move your head, back, and arms, then return to an upright posture.
What if the headache or neck pain presents itself?
- Use an ice pack to relieve inflammation (apply 10 minutes every hour as needed)
- See a medical professional trained in muscle and joint health such as a chiropractor or physiotherapist for proper diagnosis and proper treatment. Acupuncture, massage therapy and osteopathy are also good complementary options to contribute to your well-being!