Stop Texting Your Way to Neck Pain

Are you looking down at your smartphone? Is your head tilted forward as you read this? Chances are, yes.This forward positioning of your head is bad for your neck and spine. The term is called "Text Neck," and doctors consider it a global epidemic. 

Dr. Dean Fishman is a chiropractor in Florida who coined the phrase "Text Neck" to explain the repeated stress injury to the body caused by excessive texting and overuse of all handheld devices. Smartphone users spend countless hours per day in a forward head posture reading emails, sending text messages and checking social media. Are you guilty? Many of us are, but teens may be the worst. Parents need to start showing more guidance.

The human head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds. For every inch your head is tilted forward, the pressure on your spine doubles. If you would tilt your head forward at 15 degrees, the weighted pressure feels like 27 pounds, at 30 degreed it’s 40 pounds, at 45 degrees it’s 49 pounds, and at 60 degrees it’s 60 pounds. 

(Courtesy of Dr. Ken Hansraj M.D.)

All the extra pressure puts a strain on your spine and can pull it out of alignment. Dr. Tom DiAngelis, president of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Private Practice Section, compares it to bending your finger back all the way and holding it there for an hour.

Poor posture has been linked to a number of medical problems, including headaches, depression, constipation and heart disease. It also can reduce lung capacity by as much as 30 percent.

Smartphones are a wonderful asset to daily life. Just be mindful and aware of how you use them. Now get up, stretch and go for a walk. When you're done, visit our website at McKoloskyChiropractic.com.

Low Back Pain is a Major Cause of Disability in the U.S.

Dr. Nick McKolosky

This may be an alarming statistic, but approximately one in three people at some point in their life before retirement will have a disability. In 2013, the overall prevalence rate of non-institutionalized working age adults (ages 21 to 64) with a disability in the United States was 10.8 percent, according to the American Community Survey done by the U.S. Census Bureau. In other words, 19,618,200 of the 181,949,900 individuals in that working age group reported one or more disabilities. 

Low back pain is a great cause of concern for many working age adults in the U.S. and it causes more disabilities than nearly 300 other conditions. Low back pain is something that almost all people experience at some point in their lives. One expert said the results are not surprising. “Back pain is the number one cause of lost work days in the US,” said Dr. Anders Cohen, chief of neurosurgery and spine surgery at the Brooklyn Hospital Center, in New York City. Staying in shape is one of the best ways to prevent back pain. It's really important to maintain core strength and flexibility to keep your back healthy.

Are you experiencing lower back pain yourself? It could be because of your everyday lifestyle. Your back is at the mercy of bad habits like: slouching while you sit, lifting and pulling heavy objects, being overweight, not exercising, smoking or wearing high heels. Back pain should not be taken lightly. If the pain is left uncared for, it can result in serious health issues.

If you are experiencing any discomfort or pain, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with our experienced team of doctors and staff. At McKolosky Chiropractic, we take great pride in providing the finest chiropractic care to each and every patient, using the most innovative and effective soft touch techniques. A healthy spine is key to a healthy life.

Call McKolosky Chiropractic and schedule an appointment today at (814) 269-3116.

Visit us online at McKoloskyChiropractic.com


- 2013 Disability Status Report, Cornell University
- WebMD

Understanding the Symptoms of Back Pain

Most people have experienced some form of back pain at some point in their lives. Some causes of back pain are self-inflicted due to a lifetime of bad habits. Other causes of back pain include auto accident injuries, sports injuries and muscle strains. Although many of the causes differ, most share the same symptoms of discomfort or pain.

Are you experiencing the following back pain symptoms?

• Continuous aching or stiffness anywhere along your spine. The spine reaches from the base of your neck to your tail bone
• Sharp, direct pain in your neck, upper back or lower back (often after lifting heavy objects or engaging in other strenuous activity)
• Persistent aching in the middle or lower back (often occurs after sitting or standing for extended periods of time)
• Pain ranging from your lower back to the buttock, down the back of your thigh, and into your calf and toes
• Inability to stand straight without experiencing pain or spasms in your lower back.

These are just a small list of symptoms that cause back pain. If you're dealing with any of these, call McKolosky Chiropractic. We take great pride in providing the finest chiropractic care to each and every patient, using the most innovative and effective soft touch techniques. For over 30 years, patients from the Johnstown community and surrounding area have entrusted their care and that of family and friends to Dr. McKolosky. Call us and schedule an appointment today at (814) 269-3116.