Text neck is a repeated stress injury as well as pain, sustained from excessive watching or texting on handheld devices for long periods of time. The dependence on mobile phones is increasing rapidly, and people spend long hours on their phones, which leads to various musculoskeletal problems. Individuals with this syndrome usually present with neck pain, restricted cervical range of motion, reduced muscle strength and endurance, altered cervical joint position error, along with postural alterations like forward head posture and rounded shoulders as well.
According to recent research, 79% of those aged 18 to 44 have their phones with them virtually all of the time, with only two hours of their waking day spent without them.
In the neutral position, an adult’s head weighs 10-12 pounds. With the flexion of the head, the load increases towards the neck, and the weight is calculated to be 27, 40, 49, and 60 pounds at 15°, 30°, 45°, and 60° respectively. People who use a smartphone frequently have a downward gaze to focus lower, and keep their heads in a forward position for lengthy periods, which can cause neck strain, eventually hastening the process of ageing in the cervical spine. The symptom can result from improper workstations, poor ergonomics, inadequate breaks, and prolonged improper postures.
Common symptoms of text neck
Common symptoms of text neck include headaches, stiffness, shoulder pain, and persistent neck pain. In more extreme situations, tingling or numbness in the fingers or arms could be present, suggesting that nerves are being squeezed.
Text neck, if ignored and untreated, can result in serious long-term consequences, such as flattening of the spinal curvature, early onset of arthritis, spinal misalignment, spinal degeneration, disc space compression, disc herniation, nerve or muscle damage, inflammation of cervical ligaments, nerve irritation, and an increase in spine curvature.
A case study
Take this case of a young IT professional. He came in with severe neck pain radiating to the right arm and to the thumb. He had developed neurological weakness in the form of a poor hand grip and an inability to extend the wrist.
An MRI revealed a huge C56 disc pressing on the right side of the C6 nerve root, leading to this catastrophe. He was immediately taken up for endoscopic removal of disc, decompression of the affected nerve root, followed by replacement by an artificial disc with the aim to retain movements at that level and to avoid adjacent disc degeneration. He regained all of his lost power and was pain-free immediately, and was able to rejoin work in a week.
Not all people however, end up with the above scenario, and not all require surgical intervention unless neurological weakness is detected. A personalised approach, along with community awareness are both factors that can play a vital role in the rationalisation of text neck syndrome.
Integrated postural training in such cases can be a beneficial approach for individuals, combining pain management with a focus on increasing the cervical range of motion, strengthening, stretching, and postural correction.
Physical therapy methods that include a patient-centered approach, home exercises, and postural correction are the prime aspects of managing this syndrome at an early stage to avoid later consequences.
Physiotherapy interventions can be done to treat text neck syndrome, some of which include local ultrasounds, manual traction and manual exercises, cervical muscle stretching, and McKenzie exercises. There is an increasing need for a structured treatment protocol in such individuals to avoid long-term complications, which are mostly seen at an early age.
Treatment options
Simple changes in lifestyle can often be part of the initial course of treatment. Pain can be relieved and further damage can be avoided with physical treatment, posture correction, stretching exercises, and screen time reduction. Also helpful are ergonomic workstations, supportive chairs, and regular pauses when using a laptop or phone.
Surgery might be considered in situations where the spine has sustained structural damage, such as slipped discs or significant nerve compression. To relieve pressure on the nerves, the standard treatment is to remove the injured disc part. A minimally invasive procedure can be used to accomplish this, resulting in a quicker recovery and less discomfort. Surgery is only advised in cases when conservative measures have failed and the problem interferes with day-to-day functioning.
Prevention is better than cure
It’s easier to prevent text neck than to treat it. Maintaining an active lifestyle, holding displays at eye level, and encouraging proper posture can all have a big impact. In the digital age, spinal health can be significantly protected by early awareness and conscious practices. Spinal issues don’t have to be permanent, but smartphones are. Maintaining a strong and healthy spine while being connected is possible with minor adjustments and consistent attention to posture.
(Dr. Mohit Muttha is a consultant spine surgeon at Manipal Hospital, Kharadi, Pune. He can be reached at Mohit.muttha@manipalhospitals.com)
Published – April 23, 2025 06:33 pm IST
