Tech neck often occurs due to poor posture in front of a computer or mobile phone. When the head falls forward in front of the body, the strain on the neck muscles, ligaments and bones increases. This leads to tension, stiffness and the risk of long-term problems in the neck, shoulders and upper back.
What is a tech neck?
Tech neck is a condition in which the head is tilted forward in relation to the shoulders and back. The head weighs about 4 kg, and when it is in front of the body, the strain on the neck and back muscles increases significantly. This incorrect load is a result of our modern lifestyle with many hours in front of a computer, tablet or phone. If the posture is not corrected, the problems can become long-lasting and difficult to treat.
Common causes & risk factors
A static, forward-leaning posture mainly causes tech neck. Working at a computer without an ergonomically adapted work environment, prolonged mobile phone use and inactivity are the most common risk factors. Rotating the shoulders forward and letting the neck carry the phone instead of holding it with the arms often worsens the situation.
Symptoms
- Stiffness and pain in the neck
- Pain in the shoulder area and upper back
- Feeling of fatigue in the neck muscles
- Tension headaches caused by muscular strain
- Poor posture with forward-slung shoulders
When should you seek medical attention?
If the problems become long-lasting, affect everyday life, or are combined with numbness or weakness in the arms, you should contact healthcare.
Recommended protection & support
If you have tech neck, the right support and offloading can help reduce pain and provide greater comfort in everyday life and at work. A posture support can help improve the position of the neck and shoulders and reduce strain associated with tech neck. By providing gentle feedback and support for a more upright posture, it can help relieve symptoms. For best results, combine it with an ergonomic workstation, regular breaks, and exercises for the neck and shoulders.
See our products that can help with tech neck
Related injuries
For more information about shoulder and neck problems, you can read more in the Shoulder & Neck Injury Guide, and you can also go to the Injury Guide's main page to read about other injuries and symptoms.
