Combat ‘text neck’ from excessive phone use with proper posture, frequent breaks

Neck pains from too much mobile phone use? A recent study about "text neck" has prompted GMA News to consult with an expert to find out if there has been a rise in neck and upper back pain among Filipinos.

Doctors Todd Lanman and Jason Cuellar, a spinal neurosurgeon and an orthopedic spine surgeon respectively from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, have noticed a reversal in the backward curve on the neck of young patients. The pair pointed to the hours spent looking down on phones every day as the cause of the reversal.

Filipino orthopedic surgeon Dr. Leo Olarte in an interview with Maki Pulido for News To Go on Wednesday said that he has yet to encounter a patient with neck problems due to excessive use of phones in the Philippines after 30 years of practice.

A study released by the International Data Corporation in 2016 said the Philippines was the fastest growing smart phone market in South East Asia.

It said that in the first quarter of 2016, at least 3.5 million smartphones were shipped to the country.

Olarte said it is possible to experience neck discomfort after looking down for too long.

"Baka matagal masyadong naka[yuko] lang or may stress — a position that is very uncomfortable to the neck can be a cause of pain," Olrate said.

For those experiencing these symptoms, Olarte recommends rest, applying cold and hot compress on the affected area, and taking a pain reliever. A light massage might also help. A visit to the doctor is a must for persistent pain.

Lanman and Cuellar, however, noted that most patients consult with doctors when the pain becomes intolerable and they already have disc issues. Aside from this, the patients are also alarmingly young.

“For today’s users, will an 8-year-old need surgery at age 28?” Lanman said. “In kids who have spines that are still growing and not developed, we’re not sure what to expect or if this could change normal anatomies.”

In addition to Olarte's tips, Lanman and Culler recommend holding cell phones in front of the face, or near eye level, while texting plus frequent breaks from phone use to avoid "text neck." —Aya Tantiangco/ALG/KG, GMA News