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Page 14 Is your mobile phone killing your back?


We are witnessing an unprecedented increase in people with symptoms associated with mobile phone, tablet and computer use. Our mobile phones and tablets have transformed the way we hold our bodies. Looking down at your device is like having a 60-pound weight on your neck, according to Kenneth K. Hansraj, MD Chief of Spine Surgery at New York Spine Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine.


Symptoms may include pain on one side of the neck and shoulder, pain over the bump at the base of their neck (the junction between the cervical and thoracic spine), upper back and even pain and/ or pins and needles or numbness in one or both arms. Poor posture also affects other parts of the spine, such as the middle and lower back.


A few solutions for you. Try to hold your phone straight in front of you instead of bending your head down. Place your table at a 30 degree angle when typing or tapping (the angle protects your wrists) or more perpendicularly if just reading, and stretch your neck back to correct a forward neck posture. If you are working on your computer take regular breaks, occasionally stretch your neck from side to side and turn your head side to side. Rolling your shoulders back and forwards will also release stress.


A pattern we are increasingly seeing is a shortening of the trapezius muscle in the neck and shoulder. This is caused by holding a tablet or a mobile phone for long periods, which eventually creates a mechanical dysfunction in the cervical spine. This may lead to nerve root irritation (commonly thought of as a pinched nerve), giving rise to arm pain, pins and needles or numbness.


At Costa Blanca Osteopaths we have years of experience in treating these conditions. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms we may be able to help. We are always happy to give you a free consultation or answer any questions you may have. Article by Tonia Sheriff D.O. (Registered Osteopath). See advert below for contact details.


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