Today, no one is surprised when every second person you meet walks down the street, staring enchantedly at the screen of his beloved smartphone. Modern man is inseparable from his gadgets – it is a source of information, a means of communication and entertainment, which is now an integral part of everyone's life. However, excessive enthusiasm for the latest devices can adversely affect the health of the spine. Read the article on how to work with mobile devices correctly and avoid such problems.
Weight of a human head – about 5 kilograms, however, when bending over, the weight on the cervical spine begins to increase. At an angle of 15 degrees, this weight increases to 12 kilograms, if an angle of 30 degrees the load is 18 kilograms, 45 degrees – 22 kilograms, at 60 degrees – 27 kilograms.
We get such a load on the spine with our smartphones, tablets, laptops and e-books. The study, which was published in the US National Library of Medicine, at one time managed to fly all over the Internet and even get on the pages of the Washington Post. In this work, the load on the spine was defined as “text neck”. The publication pointed to the possible occurrence of serious problems with the health of the spine, which, at times, can only be eliminated by surgery.
The impact of smartphones on spinal health
To understand how significant the load of 27 kilograms on the spine is, it is enough to imagine an 8-year-old child with such a regular load on the neck. So, the owners of smartphones on average spend 2-4 hours in a hunched position. The more the head is tilted forward, the greater the pressure on the spine.
Due to prolonged stretching, inflammation of the tissue occurs, which leads to muscle deformity, pinched nerves, herniated discs, and over time can cause the natural curve of the neck to change.
Many people suffer from symptoms such as pain in the neck, spine, and head, but other problems arise from poor posture. According to experts, such disorders lead to a decrease in lung volume by 30%.
An article by Dr. Kenneth K. Hansraj noted that correct posture means that the ears are level with the shoulders and shoulder blades. It is thanks to this position that the load on the body and the level of cortisol in the body, which contributes to the accumulation of fat and increases the level of glucose in the blood, is reduced.
It is not possible to completely avoid technology, but if appropriate measures are taken, it is possible to avoid stress on the spine, thereby significantly reducing the risk of posture problems.
How to work with mobile devices to keep your spine healthy
1. Hold the phone at head level, do not bend your neck.
2. When using a tablet, you should also hold the device higher, if you are typing, set the device at an angle of 30 degrees to the surface on which it is located – this will greatly reduce the strain on your hands.
When working with mobile devices, it is extremely important to ensure that your head does not tilt. Here You can learn how to relieve lower back pain.
Some simple office gymnastics will help keep your spine healthy:
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