Last week researchers in Australia published astonishing new findings by analysing the x-rays of 18-30 year olds. It seems that young people are growing bony protrusions on the back of their skulls – also known as ‘head horns’ or ‘phone bones’. The news went viral.
The undoubted culprit is our use of mobile phones and electronic devices. But beware - it is not the phones or devices that are to blame. No, it is the way that we use ourselves while texting/navigating/gaming every day that causes the changes to our postural skeleton. Over the last 10 years our dependence on phones and the internet has grown to such a degree that it is hard to get by at all without it.
If the relatively great weight of the head is not balanced over the spine, our neck muscles have to work overtime to support the extra load. Now it seems that even the very strong nuchal ligament which runs from the bottom of the skull right down the back of the cervical spine (its function being basically to stop our head dropping off) cannot support this much forward head posture. The body’s adaptive response is to lay down layers of bone – the strongest support it can muster.
We spend much time and money on ergonomics – getting the right chair, the right screen height, the right office furniture. Everyone who works at a computer is aware of the eye strain/backache/headaches that comes from long hours seated at the screen.
How much more important is it for a young person whose skeleton is still not fully formed?
It is in my opinion culpably naïve to send our children to school where BYOD (bring your own device) is becoming the norm and expect everything to be fine. Without any form of education around how to use that new technology kids will adapt. They may not feel any discomfort until 10 or 20 years later. By that point it may be too late to undo the damage except through surgery.
The symptoms of ‘text neck’ are: neck pain, back pain, restricted breathing, headaches, shoulder pain. A hunched posture will inevitably lead to problems from herniated discs to digestive and respiratory problems.
It is time that schools and parents wake up and give kids the tools they need to look after their own bodies. It is time to start teaching postural awareness in schools.