There were bound to be some repercussions for being “plugged in” 24 hours a day. We already know that constant electronic stimulation can lead to depression and trouble concentrating. But, as you’ve probably seen by now in your own practice, there are physical repercussions as well for people who are glued to their phone 24/7. One of them is “tech neck.”
What Is Tech Neck?
In case you haven’t heard of the official trending term, tech neck is the result of a person constantly bending their neck to look down at their phone or computer screen. That repetitive movement leads to sagging skin, drooping jowls, wrinkles above the collarbones, and an increase in lines and creases in the chin and neck area. Additionally, tech neck is associated with chronic headaches, shoulder and neck pain, and the early onset of arthritis.
How Serious is Tech Neck?
Think Tech Neck doesn’t apply to your patients (or to you)? Think again. Research has shown that the average person checks their phone about 85 times a day. And if you are between the ages of 18 and 39, that number can increase to as many as 150 times a day! Looking down at a screen can apply up to 50 pounds of pressure on bones and muscle that are only meant to handle 10 – 12 pounds.
How Can We Help Patients Prevent Tech Neck?
- Treat the neck and check area in the same way as the face. Most people have a regular skincare routine for their face, but they often don’t for their neck and chest. Advise patients to expand their skincare practice to include their neck and chest. Or, even better, recommend a skincare routine that is specific to their neck and chest area.
- Neck exercises. Have patients slowly stretching their neck forward and back, and side-to-side, 3 times a day for 10 times each. To improve blood flow in the neck, have patients place their index fingers on either side of their windpipe, moving them up and down their neck about 20 times. To improve the strength of their facial muscles, have them say the alphabet out loud in a slow and exaggerated voice 5 times.
- Tell them to stop resting their chin on their hands. Ask patients if they rest their chin in their hands when they look at the computer? If so, advise them to stop. This leads to unnecessary stretching of the skin around the neck.
- Use headphones when talking on the phone. If your patients use a manual handset, they probably find themselves resting their phone between their head and shoulder when they need to reach for something or use their hands. This also creates unnecessary stretching of the skin around the neck and chin area.
- Advise them to incorporate yoga into your daily routine. Many yoga poses are helpful in reversing the damage of tech neck. Upward Facing Dog, Bird Dog and Cobra help to stretch overactive, tight muscles, correct spine alignment and improve posture.
- Get the app. Yep, there is even an app for tech neck that helps remind people to hold their phone at an ideal angle for viewing, relieving pressure on their spine and cramping their neck.
Is It Too Late For Tech Neck?
If your clients are already experiencing the signs of tech neck, professional aesthetic treatments and a technologically advanced at-home skincare routine can help! Stemology Skincare provides highly efficacious anti-aging formulas utilizing the latest advancements in stem cell technology. Stemology is the first and only brand to bring together both plant and stem cell technologies, along with a stem cell communicator. This “best of” approach, maximizes Stemology’s singular ability to help prevent and improve the number one cause of skin aging – the declining production of epidermal collagen and elastin cells. With Stemology, anyone can experience healthy, glowing, younger-looking skin.
One more thing about Tech Neck – If you do nothing, it will get worse. So take action today, put down your phone and spend some time outside. You’ll thank us later!
For more information about Stemology skincare, visit http://medresultsnetwork.com/stemology-skincare/
