Quick Facts
Researchers are warning that the posture strain known as “tech-neck”, which occurs when people tilt their heads for long periods to look at smartphones, is increasingly associated with spinal and musculoskeletal issues.
A study in the European Spine Journal conducted by Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that college-aged individuals with heavy smartphone use already show signs of early-onset spinal degeneration.
Additional research reported by the University of Alabama at Birmingham revealed that tilting the head forward increases cervical-spine loading dramatically, for example with just a 15-degree tilt the effective neck weight jumps from roughly 10 to about 27 pounds.
Orthopaedic specialists caution that chronic forward-head posture may lead to conditions such as cervical kyphosis, disc degeneration, and nerve compression if habitual smartphone use continues unchecked.
Medical experts advise frequent posture breaks, raising device to eye level, and strengthening neck-and-shoulder muscles as preventive strategies against tech-neck risks.
Momentum Tracker
🔺 Growing evidence of tech-neck links to serious spinal health outcomes is driving calls for ergonomic device design and public-health interventions.
🔻 Widespread prevention remains challenging as smartphone use is deeply embedded in daily life and behaviour change requires sustained effort from individuals and organisations.