Office workers, students, and just about anyone who spends time on their phone or laptop are likely all too familiar with “tech neck.” Even if you haven’t heard the term before, you’re probably familiar with the strain and pain in your neck caused by looking down at your device for too long. While it’s not an official medical term, tech neck can wreak havoc on your body and, if left unaddressed, lead to more serious issues in the future. 

The good news? There are obvious signs that point to tech neck, and problems with your posture are easy to spot once you know what to look for. Here’s what experts have to say about why tech neck happens, what you can do to reduce the symptoms, and how you can prevent tech neck from happening in the first place.  

What Is Tech Neck?

Tech neck can be defined as a protruding head posture that causes a deepening of the cervical extension curve while also causing an excessive forward curvature of the thoracic spine, says physical therapist J. Bryan Lipana.

If you’re not already in tech neck position looking at your phone or laptop right now, Peloton instructor Ross Rayburn says it’s pretty easy to mimic: “Hold a phone (real or imaginary) in front of your chest, drop your shoulders forward, and shift your chin down and forward a few inches,” he says. “That’s tech neck! It will likely feel very familiar.” 

The idea behind tech neck (also called “text neck”) is somewhat new, but the general concept has been around for a long time, says Kimball Taylor, a physical therapist and regional director for FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers. “It’s really all about poor posture,” he adds. The “new” part of tech neck, Taylor explains, is that technology developments over the past 20 years have exacerbated the problem. “Looking down at smartphones, iPads, laptops, and even slouching at your desktop computer exaggerates poor posture, putting more stress and risk on the spine,” he says.

To make matters worse, things like social media and streaming platforms have become so engaging that we may stay in a tech neck position for "sessions that are both far too long and all too frequent in a normal day," Taylor adds.

Spending too much time in this posture increases the forward tilt of the head, causing stress on the cervical spine and surrounding muscles, leading to pain and other potential issues on the neck and upper spine. And while we all contort our head and neck into this position at some point, tech neck becomes a problem when it leads to tech neck pain.

What Are the Symptoms of Tech Neck Syndrome?

Giving up electronic devices is not in the cards for many of us. For better or worse, we live on our screens for several hours a day. That said, understanding the signs that indicate a worsening problem can help you determine if tech neck pain is settling in.

The common symptoms of tech neck include:

While the occasional achy neck might not be a cause for concern, living with chronic symptoms may lead to other problems if they’re not addressed. “Neck and back stiffness and pain are just the beginning,” Taylor says. “As we go further down that path, it's common to have more nerve compression issues in the spine and shoulders, which can lead to numbness, tingling, and radiating pain in the extremities.” 

Additionally, Lipana says chronic tech neck may evolve into more serious headache issues like cervicogenic headaches and/or dizziness caused by the compression of nerves and abnormal muscle tension. 

Taylor adds that chronic tech neck can also lead to scoliosis or kyphosis, which are diseases where the spine isn't holding its normal shape. “In extreme cases, these conditions can require surgery to correct,” he notes. “In milder cases, you may live with a deformity in your spine.”

Tech Neck Exercises

Tech neck doesn't show up unexpectedly. Most of the time, the discomfort is brewing, but the pain doesn’t surface until your body is really out of alignment. But you can reduce the symptoms and keep tech neck at bay with the right stretches, posture adjustments, and exercises for tech neck. These moves can help alleviate pain while also stretching and strengthening your upper body. Here are a few of Lipana’s favorite tech neck exercises to try.

Chin Tuck

Doorway Chest Stretch

Scapular Pinches with Thoracic Extension

Of course, if you have any questions or concerns, reach out to a physical therapist or doctor. “There are innumerable variations of tech neck, and no two necks are the same,” Ross notes. If you continue to have symptoms, Taylor says you may benefit from a personalized physical therapy program to address the stiffness and restore motion and strength to the injured spine. 

Tech Neck Prevention Tips

Now that we’ve covered how to deal with tech neck while it’s affecting you, let’s take a look at how you can prevent it from happening in the first place.

1. Consider How You’re Sitting

If you’re going to be on a screen, Taylor recommends putting your hips all the way to the back of the chair and retracting or moving your shoulders and chin black to improve spine and neck position. Your head, hips, and spine should be stacked, your elbows should be bent at a 90-degree angle, and your wrists should be straight, according to the Mayo Clinic.

2. Keep Your Screens at Eye Level

You’ll also want to find a way to elevate the screen to roughly eye level. This will keep your neck in the most neutral position, Lipana adds. “A neutral position allows the joints in your neck to have the largest volume and the least compressive forces,” he explains. “It also means the compression of the cervical vertebra is evenly distributed and the neck muscles are at their resting length, not overly stretched or shortened.”

Holding a smartphone with your arms high can work for a little while, but keeping them there is difficult. Setting your phone up on a platform can offer a better height without fatiguing your arms. Alternatively, you can support your arms with a pillow or a box. When you’re working on a laptop, consider using a separate monitor or keyboard so your eyes and spine don't have to curve down to a low screen.

3. Snap a Photo of Your Tech Neck

Have a friend or coworker take a side picture of you when you least expect it, Taylor recommends. “Most of us are very unaware of how bad we might look while on our phones,” he says, explaining that seeing is believing and looking at the photo (even if it feels cringe-worthy) is a good place to start for working on your posture.  

4. Take Breaks From Your Devices

Additionally, Lipana says taking breaks is key to preventing tech neck from happening in the first place. That’s why he recommends standing up and looking away from your screen in different directions while moving your neck. If possible, aim to do this once every 30 minutes while using a device. 

5. Manage Stress and Tension

When you’re worried and stressed, your body might shift into a protective posture that’s not great for your neck, according to UT Health Austin. Making time for mindfulness (say, with a breathing meditation or soothing stretch session) can help you find calm and tune into your body.

6. Build Upper Body Strength

Practicing regular core, back, and neck strengthening exercises is key for preventing unwanted tech neck symptoms, says the National Spine Health Foundation.

You can learn more about how to build strength and mobility so you can move and feel better at a desk (and beyond) with Peloton's Desk Worker Strength & Mobility collection, developed in conjunction with musculoskeletal health experts at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS).

The Takeaway 

If you’re dealing with tech neck and having painful or stiffness symptoms, Taylor says the first step is to stop the damage. Following the guidelines outlined in this article should help to stop your tech neck from getting worse, and hopefully, keep it from coming back. But if your symptoms just won’t go away, it might be a good idea to consult a physical therapist. They should be able to help relieve your stiffness and restore motion and strength to your spine.