Issue link: http://www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com/i/70200
laptops, phones, or tablets. These workers are often unable to control the ergonomics of their location. Laptop computers find themselves on tabletops, forcing users to elevate their shoulders, creating contractions in the numerous lateral and posterior neck muscles. If the laptop is not on a table, it is often in users' laps, causing them to depress and roll their shoulders forward, increasing their thoracic curvature and looking down in that Text Neck position. Text Neck Syndrome creates a decreased curvature, or flattening, of the lower neck area, bringing the head forward and forcing an increased curvature of the upper neck. The flattening of the lower cervical curve increases the pressure on the anterior portion of the vertebrae and can result in compression of nerves and tightening of muscles in the neck. This could also potentially lead to arthritis in the neck. Prolonged contractions of the posterior musculature of the neck and head, which are necessary to hold the imbalanced forward head posture, can lead to pain, spasms, and tension headaches. THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS Understanding the trends of today's society and the potential conditions they may cause is important. By the year 2016, with no growth in the current trend, there will be about 4.9 million telecommuters in the United States. According to the Text Neck Institute in Plantation, Florida (www.text-neck.com), more than 4 billion mobile phones are in use worldwide. The average teenager spends 6–7 hours a day on some form of mobile technology. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation states that teens, and children over age 8, send an average of 118 texts per day. The technological advancements of today's society have provided many conveniences, but they have also impacted body mechanics, position, and postures. Smartphone Thumb and Text Neck Syndrome are increasing in frequency, and starting to affect a younger, and larger, population. Self-assessment and therapeutic interventions are two steps that help people with the pains of mobile devices. Ask yourself, "How often am I texting each day? Am I holding my device up to read, or am I stressing my neck by looking down at it? Do I experience any pain or stiffness due to the use of my mobile device?" The good news is that help is only a conversation away. Talk with your massage therapist about proper body mechanics or positional changes you can make to help alleviate the discomfort you experience during and after using your mobile device. Your therapist can also recommend changes you can make at your home or portable office to prevent future injuries. Most importantly, get a massage therapist to work out the kinks and adhesions created from prolonged postural positioning like the forward head and flexed neck of Text Neck Syndrome, and the stress and strain in your hands and wrists from Smartphone Thumb. B S Jeffrey A. Simancek has more than 15 years of experience as a bodyworker. He is an author, educator, and continuing education provider. He is currently teaching massage and has his own practice in Irvine, California. You can find him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wolftracksmassagetherapy. Mobile technologies are allowing society to take the workplace wherever they go; unfortunately, proper ergonomics do not always follow.