Chiropractors are reporting more cases of strain than ever before. Commonly referred to as text neck, resulting from the overuse of today’s tech such as cell phones or tablets. I often squirm when observing guests using their cell phones at my office. They all tend to mimic this horrifying posture:
- Flexed at the hip
- Hunch-backed
- Staring down at their mobile device (sometimes just inches from the screen)
I jokingly say that it’s just a matter of time before our bodies merge with technology and we transform into robo-humans.
Ideal Posture
First, allow me to clarify that I’m excluding individuals who suffer from specific spinal conditions. Our spines are generally capable of handling certain loads and stresses without injury. If not, we would all be suffering from some form of spinal damage each time we carried something heavy or engaged in activities requiring us to be in less than ideal postures. However, this doesn’t mean that repetitive movements don’t have a detrimental effect on our spines long-term. Rather that we are built to take on high amounts of physical stress.
Due to gravity, our bodies constantly endure downward stress on our spines. This usually occurs without injury every day. There is an argument to be made about what the “ideal” posture is to minimize the amount of stress on our spines.
For the purpose of this article, it’s important to note that the ideal curvatures of the spine are based on theoretical models that are published in reputable peer-reviewed journals. (1)
Click here for Exercises to Help Improve Your Posture.