Last week I stopped working out for two full days in a row…okay four, four whole days in a row. A symptom of quarantine, usually I exercise 5-6 times a week. The break was crucial in confirming health is wealth; almost instantly I started to experience a severe pain from my right shoulder/neck to my wrist. At first I thought I had De Quervain’s tendinosis (inflamed tendons on the thumb side of my wrist), but the real culprit was technology. I was suffering from text neck. Staring down at your phone and/or computer for extended periods of time, rather than holding your items at eye level causes the neck to protract. This is nothing to take lightly. Your ligaments weaken and the muscles at the back of your head shorten, leading to permanent damage if left unresolved.
In the beginning I didn’t think this was something to worry about, I look down to read books and write in my journal. Until a curvature appeared, truly I started to freak the fuck out! Evolution is not a game, something like this can change the human structure and pass down to our offspring. We keep what we use, we lose what we don’t.
Dramatic as fuck, I started looking up solutions to reverse my turtle neck which was worsening hunny. Holding your technology up to eye level is one prevention method, but exercising, particularly YOGA is the answer. All those downward facing dogs and mountain poses aren’t in vain. Do yourself a favor even if you don’t like strenuous workouts; if not for your mental wellbeing, or for vanity’s sake do it for your spine. Unless you find bliss in spinal degeneration, early arthritis, disc compression, weakened muscles and loss of lung capacity then have at it, it’s your life kid.
Protect ya neck: https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/text-neck-treatment#prevention-tips