Massage Therapy Journal Summer 2024

32 • Massage Therapy Journal

AMTA Continuing Education

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Tech Neck Syndrome A significant portion of the population now spends many

additional hours each day hunched over smartphones, laptops and tablet computers. Research says that the weight of the head signifcantly increases with each inch it is held forward or tilted. Weighing about 10–12 pounds in a neutral position, head weight increases to around 60 pounds at a 60-degree angle.

Head weight

These symptoms are making an appearance with unprecedented speed—especially among adolescents—and this confluence of risk factors has precipitated the emergence of a novel and widespread health concern known as tech neck syndrome (TNS). Symptoms of this condition include pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders, headaches, neck muscle spasms, back pain, numbness or tingling in the neck and pinched nerves. Tech Neck Syndrome: What It Is and the Role of Massage Therapy Historically, we have acknowledged the adverse effects of poor posture associated with desk-bound occupations on the entire spine. The advent of desktop and laptop computers further exacerbated this issue, fostering a more intensely rounded forward posture due to the demands of typing and leaning in to view small text on monitors. In the current landscape, however, an additional layer has been added to this complex scenario. A significant portion of the population now spends many additional hours each day hunched over small

mobile devices such as smartphones and notebooks, on top of hours already spent in a similar posture at a desk or computer. This precarious combination, when compounded by the fine, repetitive movement of the thumbs and the act of grasping the device, sets the stage for a multitude of issues. Consider the average adult dedicating a minimum of five hours daily to texting and scrolling on smartphones who is often simultaneously engaged in desk or computer-based jobs. Additionally, young adults and children spend a staggering eight to nine hours daily on phones, notebooks and mobile gaming devices, and they often find themselves immersed in academic activities on those same devices. 1 The continuous expansion and enhancement of mobile devices, coupled with the growing psychological expectation to remain digitally connected at nearly all times, contribute to the sustained escalation in the overall time spent with technology. Other factors causing TNS include the global paradigm shift toward working from home in improvised workspaces, the extensive use of laptops and work computers with little consideration for

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