Tech Neck & Text Neck Treatment in Sturgis
If you’ve been spending long hours on your phone, tablet, or computer and you’re feeling stiff, sore, or achy in your neck and shoulders, you may be experiencing what’s commonly called “tech neck” or “text neck.” With many people spending five or more hours a day on devices, this modern postural problem is becoming increasingly common — and increasingly damaging. At Key City Chiropractic & Acupuncture, Dr. Jerrid Goebel is specially trained in spinal biomechanics and can help correct the misalignments caused by tech neck before they lead to longer-term complications.
Why It Does More Damage Than You’d Expect
In a neutral, upright position, your head weighs approximately 12 pounds — a load your neck is well designed to support. But when you tilt your head forward to look down at a screen, that effective load on your neck can increase dramatically, placing the equivalent of up to 60 pounds of force on your cervical spine. Over hours and days and years, that adds up to significant wear and strain.
The forward head posture also shifts the spine backward and causes the hips to tilt forward, creating a chain of misalignments that affects more than just your neck. Tech neck can contribute to upper and lower back pain, tension headaches, wrist and carpal tunnel issues, and even reduced lung capacity — as the hunched posture limits chest expansion and may reduce oxygen intake by as much as 30%. Over time, untreated tech neck can accelerate disc degeneration, contribute to arthritis, cause disc herniation, and even produce numbness in the fingers.
Symptoms of Tech Neck
Chiropractic Care for Tech Neck
At Key City Chiropractic & Acupuncture, Dr. Goebel addresses tech neck through spinal realignment to relieve pressure on the vertebrae, muscles, and ligaments of the neck and upper back. Regular chiropractic care helps restore the natural curve of the cervical spine, reduce inflammation, and keep the spine functioning well — especially important for patients whose work or lifestyle makes device use unavoidable. Alongside in-office treatment, Dr. Goebel provides personalized guidance on posture correction and at-home exercises to support lasting results.
Tips to Prevent Tech Neck
Lifestyle modifications are just as important as treatment when it comes to tech neck. Here are some practical habits that can make a real difference:
- Hold your phone or tablet up at eye level rather than looking down at it
- Move your eyes to look down at your screen — not your entire head
- Take a break from screens every 20 minutes and perform a few gentle neck stretches
- Use a device stand or holder to let your arms and shoulders relax
- Keep your head in a neutral position, wrists straight, and shoulders relaxed while typing
- Try “mirror exercises” such as lying with your head gently hanging off the edge of a bed with a rolled towel under your neck, or performing shoulder blade retraction exercises to counteract forward posture
Schedule Your Appointment
If neck stiffness, shoulder pain, or headaches are becoming a regular part of your day, contact Key City Chiropractic & Acupuncture in Sturgis to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Goebel and take the first step toward better spinal health in the digital age.
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