(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. However, these claims are often speculative. The way scientific findings on movement, anatomy, and posture are communicated to the general public can sometimes distort reality.
When researching the relationship between texting posture, smartphone use, and neck pain, it is crucial to ensure that studies follow a rigorous methodology to achieve high scientific validity. Unfortunately, I have to break it to you—if you believed this or not—researchers have found no strong evidence linking excessive smartphone use to neck pain. (1)
Posture and Neck Pain: A Misunderstood Relationship
This topic is important because the beliefs we hold influence how we approach our health. In 2020, a study debunked the supposed link between posture and low back pain (2). While this might seem insignificant, reconsidering such misconceptions can be highly beneficial for patients.
The key takeaway? Fixating on maintaining a perfect posture to reduce neck pain is misleading. The real issue isn’t posture itself but rather the lack of movement. Your spine is meant to be strong and flexible, and the best strategy for preventing or managing neck pain is to move frequently and change positions rather than obsess over an “ideal” posture. There is no scientific evidence linking text neck with neck pain, no consensus! (3)
The Myth of the Perfect Posture
If a universally perfect posture existed to prevent neck pain, we would all know it by now, and neck pain would have been eradicated long ago. But pain is complex, and reducing it requires more than just sitting up straight. The medical field has moved away from rigid posture prescriptions and now encourages variability and movement as key factors in pain management.
I’m Yannick Sarton, a physiotherapist (MSc) and an Osteopath, and I’m available to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to visit my website to learn more about my services and my practice in Phnom Penh, BKK1
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Correia IMT, Ferreira AS, Fernandez J, Reis FJJ, Nogueira LAC, Meziat-Filho N. Association Between Text Neck and Neck Pain in Adults. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2021 May 1;46(9):571-578. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000003854. PMID: 3329031.
Swain CTV, Pan F, Owen PJ, Schmidt H, Belavy DL. No consensus on causality of spine postures or physical exposure and low back pain: A systematic review of systematic reviews. J Biomech. 2020 Mar 26;102:109312. doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2019.08.006. Epub 2019 Aug 13. PMID: 31451200.
Grasser T, Borges Dario A, Parreira PCS, Correia IMT, Meziat-Filho N. Defining text neck: a scoping review. Eur Spine J. 2023 Oct;32(10):3463-3484. doi: 10.1007/s00586-023-07821-2. Epub 2023 Jul 5. PMID: 37405530.
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