Blissfully unaware of the danger he is in. Photo credit: Shockingly Tasty http://www.flickr.com/photos/shockinglytasty/4753720255/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Chiropractors say that “thousands” of people in the UK are suffering from a serious new health problem: text neck, the Telegraph reported. Flexing the neck downwards towards mobile devices such as mobile phones and iPads can, over time, put stress on the muscles, joints and tissues. So will the humble smartphone soon reduce the human race to a species of incapacitated hunchbacks? Is it time to abandon our phones, before it’s too late?
Time to panic? The chiropractors of Great Britain are concerned: “Sufferers are increasing as the use of smart phones and tablet computers become more popular,” Rachael Lancaster told the Telegraph. Tim Hutchful, of the British Chiropractic Association, warned the Daily Mail that “muscles will go into spasm” if they are forced to hold an unnatural position.
“This is a global epidemic,” said Dean Fishman from the specialist Text Neck Institute in Florida to msn.com
Calm down. Chris Matyszczyk, writing for CNET, was somewhat less hysterical, and maintained his faith that we can overcome this global risk: “Surely at least some people – on feeling stiffness, pain, or discomfort in their necks – might be smart enough to adjust their seating position, their head angle, or their attitude to life.” Jack Loftus of Gizmodo offered a handy health tip: “Adopt good posture and your body will repay you by breaking down more slowly as you age, instead of all at once as you toil away on your iPhone on the subway.”
