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A record number of Americans have been working from home during the pandemic and it’s resulting in a spike in new cases of “tech neck,” which is caused by spending hours craning your head in an unnatural position as you use your computer, cellphones and other tech devices. Instead of working from ergonomic workstations common in most office settings, people on lockdown are making themselves comfortable on their couches, Lazy Boy recliners and beds.
“The challenge with working from home is that the furnishings generally don’t offer good lumbar (lower back) support and that aggravates tech neck,” says board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon Hooman Melamed, M.D.
He says that most patients don’t realize that when they use their tech devices they are putting an additional 60 pounds of pressure on their muscles, ligaments and spinal cord that are only intended to support 10 pounds — the weight of your head. Consequently, he has seen a steep increase in the number of patients complaining about severe neck, upper back and/or shoulder pain, rounded shoulders, reduced mobility and headaches — all symptoms of tech neck.
“It’s important to pay attention to your body when you’re experiencing these symptoms because, left untreated, tech neck can lead to herniated discs, unnatural curvature of the spine, arthritis spurred by wear and tear to the spine, pinched nerves, shortening of the ligaments, muscle spasms, chronic pain and neurological problems,” cautions Melamed, who says that in some cases surgery may be needed. “To prevent symptoms from worsening, I suggest raising your tech devices to eye level and take periodic breaks to stretch your neck muscles. Yoga is also a good way to alleviate the stress your neck and spine are under.”
Inducted into the “Leading Physicians in the World, National Castle Connolly Top Doctor and Southern California Super Doctors” Melamed lectures worldwide before colleagues in his field, has published numerous research papers in prestigious medical journals and shared his expertise as a guest on national and local media including regular appearances on the nationally syndicated TV program, “The Doctors.” His nonprofit, “Back To You” has helped treat those who do not have the resources or health insurance. For more information, visit www.thespinepro.com or call (310) 574-0405.
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Release ID: 88966636