Text Neck Pain: Why the Popular Narrative is Wrong

(Of course, this article is purely a joke! But I want to draw your attention to how easily certain beliefs spread on social media, often without solid justification.)

The idea that excessive smartphone use and prolonged neck flexion cause neck pain is widely accepted. You hear it everywhere: social media, blogs, infographics, YouTube health channels.However, these claims are often speculative, oversimplified, and based on a distorted interpretation of scientific research.

When researching the relationship between texting posture, smartphone use, and neck pain, it is essential to ensure that studies follow strong methodology. The surprising reality is that researchers have found no strong evidence linking excessive smartphone use to neck pain.This goes directly against what most people believe.

Posture and Neck Pain: A Misunderstood Relationship

What we believe about our body shapes the way we behave, how we move, and how we respond to pain. In 2020, a key study disproved the commonly repeated idea that posture causes low back pain.This is not a trivial detail — correcting misconceptions can genuinely help patients recover better.

The key message is simple:Fixating on keeping a perfect posture to avoid neck pain is misleading.Your spine is designed to be strong, adaptable, and tolerant. The real issue is not posture itself, but a lack of movement. Stiffness and discomfort arise when positions are held for too long, not because the position is “wrong”.

And most importantly:There is no scientific evidence linking “text neck” with neck pain.No consensus. No clear causal link. Only repeated myths.

The Myth of the Perfect Posture

If a universal perfect posture existed to prevent neck pain, we would have discovered it long ago, and neck pain would essentially not exist anymore. This alone shows how much more complex the problem is.

Modern clinical science has moved away from rigid posture prescriptions. Instead, it encourages:

– movement variability– confidence in normal positions– gradual exposure to activities– reducing the fear of “wrong” postures

Pain is not an alignment problem. It is a complex interaction between tissues, habits, stress, sensitivity, and context.

A More Accurate Perspective

Your neck doesn’t need a perfect angle to stay healthy. What it needs is movement, variety, and the ability to adapt to different positions throughout the day.

Changing posture regularly is a far better strategy than aiming for a position that supposedly prevents pain.

I provide structured and evidence-based online physiotherapy for patients worldwide, offering clinical assessment, diagnosis, and personalised rehabilitation.

I also receive patients in person at my physiotherapy clinic in Phnom Penh.

You can begin your online physiotherapy session through the dedicated platform:

https://www.studiohealthon.com/online-physiotherapy

More information on clinical standards and supporting evidence is available here:

https://www.studiohealthon.com/online-physiotherapy-clinical-evidence

Yannick Sarton, MSc Physiotherapist

International Online Physiotherapy & In-Clinic Care, Phnom Penh