Why physicians fear texting's long term impact on the spine: 5 key notes

Spine

A study published in The Spine Journal and reported on in Reuters Health reveals physicians' concerns with people's prolonged phone usage.

Here are five things to know:

 

1. Young patients are reporting disc herniation and alignment problems, according to the study.

 

2. People hold their necks at roughly 45 degree, with the angle worsening when they sit as opposed to stand and text.

 

3. Neck and upper back pain are becoming increasingly common and are directly correlated to poor posture during prolonged smartphone use, according to the report.

 

4. Study Co-author Todd Lanman, MD, of Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Lanman Spinal Neurosurgery said, "The real concern is that we do not know what this means down the road for kids today who use phones all day."

 

5. The condition is coming to be known as "text neck."

 

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