Always Ready. Always Safe. Learn More About Our Health and Safety Protocols.corona close
Skip to main content
Back to all

Physical Therapy for “Text Neck”

December 4, 2017 | Tips & Trends
Share
Tweet
Share

Young man texting on phone and rubbing back of neck.

Technology has quite literally become a huge pain in the neck. With countless hours a day spent looking down at phones and tablets  we’re putting extra pressure on our neck. This added pressure and strain leads to pain and headache. This epidemic has come to be known as text neck.

Text neck is the result of maintaining a severely forward flexed position, putting pressure on the cervical spine, a complex system of muscles, tendons, ligaments and/or intervertebral discs that provide support and movement. This pressure causes weakening of muscles and ligaments that can over time cause serious damage to the rest of the body.

Did you know …
Flexing your neck down 60 degrees can create 60 lbs of pressure on your spine.

Cervicogenic Headache

A headache as a result of stain on the cervical spine is called a cervicogenic headache. Cervicogenic headaches are characterized by pain in the base of the skull or just above the neck that can radiate towards the front of the head or eye region. Some have described a feeling of stiffness in the neck before or during the headache. The pain from these headaches is steady and can last for hours. It’s important to note that cervicogenic headaches are the result of dysfunction in the neck that can be caused by more than just use of electronic devices; things such as a job requiring the same neck position all day, an injury/fall or even arthritis.

Diagnosis

Text neck and cervicogenic headaches can be difficult to diagnose. However, a skilled physician or physical therapist will be able to diagnose such issues by assessing the movement patterns of the upper cervical spine and abnormal muscular tone in the neck. In some cases, the patient may need a CT scan, x-ray or MRI to confirm the neck dysfunction and severity of it.

How Can a Physical Therapist Help?

It is common for pain from text neck to be treated by medication, but that only yields short-term relief. When neck dysfunction is detected the best course of action is to work to restore normal movement patterns, yielding long-term results. Physical therapists will use a combination of techniques when creating a treatment plan. Most importantly they will use manual therapy to mobilize cervical joints and soft tissue with an added component of home exercise to help restore normal head/neck posture. Additional treatment options include but are not limited to modalities such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation, heat, traction and general conditioning. Once function is restored, prevention is key! Patients who follow through with their given home exercise routine see the most lasting success.

For more detailed information on how a PT can help, visit the Phoenix PT location near you.

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
×