Neck Pain

Always Looking Down At Your Phone El Paso, TX.

The human head weighs an average of 10 pounds and can put a great deal of pressure on the neck when placed in different positions – especially when always looking down at your phone.

Damage can be caused by time spent staring at mobile screens has been given the name “Text Neck.” and it is a growing problem among not only teens but for everyone.

Always Looking Down at Your Phone = Neck Injury

Your body is well-designed to bear the weight of your head when you maintain good posture – but tilting your head down to look at your phone is not good posture. In fact, for every inch you move angle your head downward, you double the pressure on your spine.

Looking at your phone can put an extra ten or twenty pounds of pressure on your neck. That would be worth noting even if you only did it occasionally, but most people spend hours looking at their phones throughout the day. That amounts to hours of excessive pressure on the soft tissues that make up your neck – pressure that will inevitably lead to inflammation and discomfort if left unchecked.

According to this article featured in the Washington Post, the pressure you put on your neck by bending and staring at your phone is much like bending your finger back as far as it will go, and then keeping it in that position for approximately an hour. Day after day, such stress is bound to lead to complications.

Injuries from Text Neck

The strain put on the neck by text neck is enough to cause mild to severe injuries, including:

  • Sore muscles
  • Inflamed Tissues
  • Pinched nerves
  • Herniated discs
  • Elimination of the natural curve of the neck

These injuries can cause considerable pain and discomfort and may lead to further health complications. They can lead to neck and back pain that can last for years.

Avoid Text Neck

Smartphones offer numerous benefits and opportunities for enjoyment, so it is unlikely that most people will stop using them. Luckily, there are things you can do to protect yourself, including:

Use Your Eyes, Not Your Neck

One of the simplest ways to avoid text neck is to look down with your eyes instead of tilting your head down. While it may not be practical to always use this technique, it is certainly useful in many circumstances. Your eyes can tilt down with little effort and can allow you to lessen the tilt of your neck as you use your phone.

Strengthen Neck & Shoulder Muscles

You will inevitably do some head tilting as you use your phone throughout the day. Strengthening the muscles that support your head is one way to protect your delicate neck tissues and maintain mobility. Simple exercises like turning your head each way repeatedly and using your hands to provide resistance can make your neck much stronger. Your shoulders also provide a lot of support for your neck. Shoulder exercises can increase the stability of your neck as well.

Be Aware of Head Position

Just maintaining awareness of how your head is tilted as you use your phone can help you avoid excessive tilting. Practice looking at your smartphone with your head upright to remind yourself of what good posture feels like, and pay attention during the times you deviate from good posture.

Top Treatment for Neck Pain

If you are experiencing neck pain from text neck, or from any other type of injury, chiropractic can help. Please contact us now to schedule your appointment and get some relief!

PUSH as Rx Chiropractic & Fitness Center Playlist

Post Disclaimer *

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Always Looking Down At Your Phone El Paso, TX." is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Welcome to El Paso's Premier Wellness and Injury Care Clinic & wellness blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those found on dralexjimenez.com, focusing on restoring health naturally for patients of all ages.

Our areas of chiropractic practice include  Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.

Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somato-visceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807
New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Texas & Multistate 
Texas RN License # 1191402 
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*

Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)

 

Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Recent Posts

Delayed Symptoms: Getting the Help You Need After an Auto Accident

Delayed symptoms after an auto accident can be subtle. Stay informed about the signs to… Read More

May 28, 2025

Benefits of Seeing a Chiropractor or Nurse Practitioner After MVCs

What are the advantages of a chiropractic and nurse practitioner therapy team to address spine… Read More

May 23, 2025

Pain Management: What to Know After An Auto Accident

Explore effective pain management strategies for recovering from a car accident with our expert insights… Read More

May 22, 2025

Symptoms to Watch After Being In A Car Accident

Learn the connection between the spine and back pain after a car accident injury and… Read More

May 21, 2025

Exercise and Dementia: Combatting Cognitive Decline

Does regular exercise enhance the overall health of elderly adults and reduce the risk of… Read More

May 21, 2025

Chiropractic and Nurse Practitioner: A Team Approach

In instances involving personal injuries or vehicle accidents, what are the advantages of holding a… Read More

May 20, 2025