# 15 LET’S TALK ABOUT THE NECK –

W

hat could possibly go wrong?

When chiropractors evaluate the spine one of the first things we consider are the four curves of the spine – for optimal nerve supply and hence overall spinal strength the sacrum and thoracic curves need to be in balance as do the cervical and lumbar curves. The balance and natural position of those curves is essential for keeping pressure off the delicate cervical nerves as they exit the spinal column and for optimal nerve function.

That said – let’s consider the new phenonema we are seeing in even very young children – TEXT NECK.

That is the result of children [and even adults] spending hours each day on cell phone or tablet playing games. It’s already taking its toll…but the results will only worsen as the child ages.

Why would that contant forward bent head be a problem? How can that possibly affect our health?

It all starts with understanding the weight of the human head.

For example - even a small woman’s head easily weighs 10 pounds – a big guy can easily have a 15 pound head [not more brains, mind you, just a heavier, thicker skull].

THAT’S THE WEIGHT OF A BOWLING BALL.

And where kids are concerned, the head without question is disproportionally large for the body.

Now – think about the size and strength of the neck itself. Very few people have heavily muscled neck.

Essentially we are talking about the weight of a bowling ball that must balance on a stalk.

And…if the head is constantly flexed forward that throws off the center of gravity and changes the neck curvature - -

Looking at the TEXT NECK SYNDROME example that we’ve included with this post - with even a 15% forward head the pressure of the head on the cervical vertebrae increases from a 12 pound weight to 27 pounds of pressure. Tip that head forward to 45 degrees [which is the angle every child’s head is at when playing games on the cell phone] and the weight and pressure on the spinal nerves increases to 49 pounds – and the kids are doing this for hours every day.

The longterm consequences will take a serious toll because the end results are always going to be the same – THE NERVE ROOT OPENINGS ARE DECREASED.

Once again, the life-giving energy source that is intended to flow from the brain to the organs, muscles and other tissues is decreased.

So…what kind of symptoms are encountered with Text Neck Syndrome? Keeping in mind that the primary nerve supply to the arm travels through the 4th cervial through the 2nd thoracic vertebra what can we expect to see?

Problems with the hands and fingers for sure – tingling, numbness, loss of hand and grasp strength, carpel tunnel syndrome, neck pain, headaches, loss of normal cervical range of motion, muscle damage, disc compression, loss of lung volume, GI problems, arthritis….and the list goes on.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? HOW CAN WE PREVENT OR FIX THE PROBLEM?

1) Stop the activity or raise the cell phone to a height sufficient to decrease the exteme forward flexion of the neck.

2) Have a chiropractor check your child’s spine. So many adults come in for their pain and never consider that their child [though not yet complaining of pain] may actually be brewing a bigger problem.

NEXT TIME WE’LL COVER A BIT ON THE UPPER CERVICALS.

Have questions? Contact Bobbie at DOC KLEINS CHIROPRACTIC