The Trouble with Tech

Computers, cell phones, tablets…people are spending an increasing amount of time connected to their technology devices. Body Gears physical therapists are finding patients coming in with neck and back pain, sore thumb joints, carpel tunnel, and other ailments, many due at least in part to improper posture and alignment or overuse of certain muscles. Dr. Lindsay Jana, PT, DPT, promotes good posture to prevent these injuries and for overall musculoskeletal health and wellness. Here is how she handles these injuries with her patients and how you can be mindful when using tech devices.

Q. When someone comes in with symptoms related to tech devices, what is the first thing you look at?

A. The first thing we look at is their rib cage. Most people who are on their electronic devices tilt their ribcage downward, leading to sloped shoulders and an extra bend in the back. We correct the tilt of their ribcage by correcting the position of their shoulder blades from in front of the ribcage to back, and down where they are supposed to be along the ribcage.

Lindsay usually follows with work on neck posture, making sure the chin isn’t poking forward, to take pressure off the neck joints and musculature.

Q. What is the best posture for specific tech devices?

A. Bring your phone and iPad to eye level instead of looking down. When seated at a desk, make sure the computer monitor is at eye level and that the keyboard is at a comfortable level so that the wrists are not bent and so that the elbows are bent in such a way that the shoulders are not hunched up.

Q. Is the pain due to inflammation?

A. We take a look at how much sleep people are getting because if they aren’t getting enough sleep, it increases the inflammatory proteins in the body, which can create pain.

Lindsay also advises eating a nutritious diet without a lot of inflammatory foods and getting exercise for at least 30 minutes per day to get the blood flowing.

Q. Do you ever see kids coming to the clinic with these problems?

A. It’s not just adults who are coming in with aches and pains associated with using tech devices. I see children with neck and back pain and anticipate the problem continuing and growing over time. This is a new phenomenon that even ten years ago wasn’t happening because kids today are spending a lot more time on tablets, cell phones, and computers.

This trend can also be seen in the way seats in cars and airplanes are being made to accommodate the alarming changes in posture as a society. Ten years ago, these seats had a two-inch difference between the backrest and the neck piece, whereas now, the offset is closer to four or four-and-a-half inches.

Q. Is this societal change something to be worried about?

A. It’s very alarming and it’s turning out to be a whole epidemic, where a lot of doctors are very concerned. As our society becomes more dependent on computers and electronic devices and people age, things are going to get worse.

Physical therapy at Body Gears can help reverse that change and instill good habits and posture early on to limit or prevent those effects later in life.

Q. Do you mostly see desk workers in the clinic?

A. There are even nurses coming in because they rely more on computers to take their notes and to look at patient charts. It’s across all professions and all age spans.

Q. What do you recommend for people with repetitive job tasks?

A. They need to get their bodies in the correct posture and get the right muscles activated and the wrong muscles to be lax so it’s more comfortable to use the computer and they aren’t causing the same strain on their bodies.

Lindsay will spend anywhere from six weeks to six months with patients depending on the severity of the injury and how long it has persisted.

Though some companies and schools are starting to encourage better posture and tech habits to prevent injuries, there is a danger that without expert guidance it’s possible to overcorrect posture and cause middle or lower back issues instead.

Computers, tablets and cell phones are here to stay but the aches and pains associated with using them can become a thing of the past. For more information on instilling better tech habits and healing any tech-related injuries call Body Gears at 877-709-1090.

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