by Liz Bonis, WKRC
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CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Everyone may want to pay attention to their posture while using a cell phone or computer. A potentially painful syndrome is now linked to ‘tech neck.’
A person’s phone is not the problem. OrthoCincy physical therapists say it’s how a person holds it and looks at it that can cause Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).
“Our tech world that we live in, we are constantly craning our neck forward looking at screens or looking down at screens,” said Rob Neltner, OrthoCincy physical therapy manager.
Neltner said stretching the neck may be one of the best ways to turn around TOS.
“Thoracic outlet syndrome is basically compression of either nerves or arteries,” he said.
Those nerves or arteries impact the space between a person’s collarbone and first rib, also known as the thoracic outlet.
“Most people will have numbness and tingling in their arm. They might have pain in and around their neck and shoulder,” Neltner said.
He said several things can lead to neck pain, but thoracic outlet is specific to this area of the body. It can be caused by trauma, pregnancies, anatomical defects such as having an extra rib, and even repetitive motion injuries.
In a high-tech lifestyle, those repetitive motion injuries often happen while a person is stooped over, so the area collapses and compresses upper body nerves and blood vessels.
“We do a lot of stretching of the neck, shoulder and chest muscles to create space,” Neltner said.
There isn’t a cure, but physical therapy and easing the tension around the area is the best way to keep the space open.
“Just doing a little soft tissue work, sometimes they develop a little tension up through the neck, and some of that acupressure just might help loosen it up a little bit,” said Jordan Barker, an OrthoCincy physical therapist.
It also helps to stay away from the phone or computer a few hours a day and to keep the head up while using them. Since it didn’t likely set in overnight, it may take several weeks to ease this syndrome.
