Leaning forward during phone use may cause ‘text neck’

“Tech neck” is a painful condition of the neck associated with a looking down and putting increased stressors on the neck muscles and joints. (Fred Goldstein/Dreamstime/TNS)

Spine surgeons are noticing an increase in patients with neck and upper back pain, likely related to poor posture during prolonged smartphone use, according to a recent report. 

Some patients, particularly young patients who shouldn’t yet have back and neck issues, are reporting disk hernias and alignment problems, the study authors write in The Spine Journal.