Tech Neck Syndrome

What is a Tech Neck Syndrome?

“Tech neck,” the act of stressing muscles while using phones, tablets, and computers, resulting in neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, and soreness.

Excessive use of smartphones or tablets can cause "tech neck," a condition resulting from prolonged periods of looking down that puts pressure on the cervical spine, according to Dr. Kavita Trivedi, the associate medical director of the Spine Center at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. In a university news release, Trivedi noted that Americans spend an average of five hours a day on their cellphones and even more time on laptops and computers, which can lead to muscle stiffness, joint inflammation, pinched nerves, arthritis, and other related problems such as bone spurs or herniated discs. However, Trivedi reassured that most patients with tech neck can be treated effectively without the need for surgery, and advised people to avoid neck pain by keeping their phone at eye level as much as possible.