A real pain in the tech

AS we scroll, type or swipe our way through the day, we know screen time is having an impact on our health.

- BY JO DUNBAR

Much has been discussed about shrinking concentration spans and our inability to sleep - but tech could also be responsible for that neck niggle.

So what exactly is "tech neck", and have you got it?

Strain and stiffness:

Jo Blood, director of posturepeople.co.uk, who supply workstation assessments and ergonomic office furniture, says: "Tech neck is any type of stiffness or pain in the shoulder area that is either caused by or gets worse looking at screens."

Roshni Shah, an advanced physiotherapist at a GP practice, adds: "Tech neck is like a repetitive strain of the neck. It tends to happen after prolonged forward head posture.

"Also known as cervical postural syndrome, we see more of it since the rise of remote working, and it also impacts the upper back."

It's our use of laptops and mobile technology that is causing the issue.

Roshni adds: "We used to see people with tech neck in their 30s and older, but now some patients are much younger."

Neck issues aren't the only symptom. Roshni adds: "Tech neck can also cause arm pain and numbness; headaches and nerve compression and it can reoccur."

"If you spend all day looking at a monitor then slump with your smart phone to relax, it will worsen," says Jo, who explains that constant screen gazing is disastrous for posture.