What is Text Neck In Kids?
Text neck is a condition brought on by poor posture. It gets its name from the way we often crane our necks to read our phones or tablets. The condition is becoming more prevalent as more children and adults use technology for long periods of time each day. The problem is especially pronounced amongst children, who are still developing and don't yet have the spinal structures to support the head carriage for long periods of time.
Signs and Symptoms of Text Neck In Kids
The most common symptom of text neck in kids is a visible forward tilt to the head position. This is often accompanied by limited neck mobility, neck and upper back pain, headaches, and other postural defects.
How the Upper Cervical Spine Affects Text Neck In Kids
The upper cervical spine consists of seven stacked vertebrae that support the head carriage and neck. Unsurprisingly, if you crane your head over a phone or tablet for hours on end every day, it places a significant amount of strain on the upper cervical vertebrae. Over time, the compressed vertebrae can slip out of their natural alignment, weakening the musculoskeletal structures of the neck and causing the development of a forward tilt to the head.
How Our Treatment Works for Text Neck In Kids
When it comes to treating kids with text neck, our upper cervical chiropractic specialist, Dr. Gordon Elder, employs the Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractic Technique, a gentle, low-force form of chiropractic care that focuses on correcting vertebral misalignments and re-engaging the body’s natural healing mechanisms.
The first step in this process is a 25-30-minute consultation with you and your child. Dr. Elder will be able to examine your child’s neck and spine, often using advanced 3-D diagnostic tools to pinpoint the exact location of potential misalignments. Afterwards, you’ll receive a detailed report on your child’s spinal health and you’ll both have an opportunity to discuss treatment options with Dr. Elder.
To address the root cause of your child’s text neck, Dr. Elder will perform a series of gentle and precise adjustments to any misaligned vertebrae in the upper cervical spine. Don’t worry, Dr. Elder will never use techniques that involve painful popping, cracking, or twisting of the spine.
We strongly encourage first-time patients to return for regular check-ups (for at least 3-5 months) to ensure their adjustment has set. This is especially important for kids as their spinal column is still developing. Most patients average between 10 and 15 appointments with Dr. Elder to achieve long-lasting/permanent results.
If you’re looking for a gentle, non-invasive treatment option for text neck, get in touch today to speak with Dr. Gordon Elder about the health of your child’s upper cervical spine. Located in Lubbock, Texas, Dr. Elder also services Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, El Paso in Texas, and Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.