Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2025

42 • Massage Therapy Journal

AMTA Continuing Education

muscles—such as the glutes, hip flexors, quadriceps and hamstrings—are often at the core of tech neck development. When working with clients who have tech neck syndrome, massage therapists must consider how lower body imbalances impact cervical spine alignment. From there, integrating techniques aimed at restoring proper alignment, stability and muscle balance throughout the entire body can be The phrase “sitting is the new smoking” draws clear attention to a growing body of research linking modern, sedentary lifestyles to widespread health risks. While the dangers of smoking are well documented, prolonged sitting—especially when combined with poor posture and undisciplined device use—has also been associated with cardiovascular disease, obesity, metabolic dysfunction and chronic musculoskeletal strain 7 . For many individuals, sedentary behavior stretches across their entire day—spanning work hours, academic demands and personal device use during leisure time. A 2023 Pew Research Center 8 report found the majority of young adults now report being online “almost constantly.” These habits not only contribute to sustained spinal effective in helping clients find relief. The Root of the Problem: Prolonged Sitting

stress but also reinforce physical patterns that lead to chronic variations of tech neck syndrome. Beyond the physical effects, early research suggests that extended periods of inactivity— combined with excessive digital engagement, constant connectivity and online social pressure—may also impact mental health and interpersonal function. These emotional and social consequences are increasingly relevant when considering the whole-body nature of tech neck. For massage therapists, this knowledge underscores the importance of holistic care. By addressing both the physical effects of prolonged sitting and offering guidance on posture and movement, massage therapists can play an active role in helping clients reverse these modern patterns of imbalance. A major concern that we shouldn’t overlook is the future impact of sedentary behavior going beyond just physical health. Recent studies also indicate increases in generalized and social anxiety, reduced emotional intelligence and overall diminished social skills, with the highest rates of these issues occurring among individuals who are highly sedentary or excessively reliant on digital communication. 9 Addressing the effects of prolonged sitting is a key aspect of tackling tech neck holistically. Massage therapists can be equipped with not only manual techniques for addressing physical symptoms but also the knowledge to educate their clients on the importance of movement and posture improvement. Effects of a Sedentary Lifestyle on Spinal Health and Tech Neck We know that when individuals sit for extended periods they tend to adopt a forward head posture, which leads to compression of the cervical vertebrae, hypertonic anterior neck muscles, and overstretched, weak posterior muscles— resulting in misalignment lower down into the thoracic spine. The phenomenon of increased thoracic kyphosis—a rounding of the upper back and concave chest—exacerbates tech neck symptoms by causing the neck to protrude forward even more,

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