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Jul 7, 2025
The way we interact with technology is rapidly transforming our posture—especially our necks. At Ke'Ale Chiropractic, the rise of “tech neck” is no urban legend. More of our patients, both young and old, come in today with complaints rooted in the hours they spend hunched over screens. But what is tech neck, what does it do to your body, and most importantly, how can you tackle it before it leads to bigger problems?
Tech neck is more than a buzzword. It’s a collection of postural habits that develop from regularly bending your head forward to look at phones, tablets, and computers. You might notice your head jutting out in front, rounded shoulders, or even a subtle hump developing at the base of your neck. Over time, this can morph into:
The longer you spend with screens, the more pronounced these changes become.
Ever wonder why tech neck feels so heavy? It’s all about leverage. In a neutral neck position, your head exerts about 10–12 pounds of force on your spine. Drop your chin just 15 degrees and that jumps to over 27 pounds. At 30 degrees? That’s 40 pounds. Tilt your head even further (60 degrees—hello, smartphone scrollers!), and your cervical spine is loaded with the equivalent of a small child—over 60 pounds. This extra stress speeds up wear and tear on the discs and joints, making degeneration much more likely.
Muscles react to this pressure too. The deep muscles at the front of your neck (your flexors) get weak and lazy, while the upper traps and the levator scapulae (muscles on the back and side of your neck) overwork to keep your head from falling. Meanwhile, the extensors along the back of your neck get stretched, sending messages of ache, stiffness, and even throbbing tension headaches.
Tech neck doesn’t just nag your muscles—it impacts blood flow, nerves, and even your breathing.
Prolonged slouching and neck flexion can reduce vertebral artery blood flow, raising the risk for symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, or in severe cases, vertebrobasilar insufficiency.
Constant poor posture can increase strain on spinal nerves, sometimes leading to “pinched nerves,” radiating pain, numbness, or tingling in the arms. The spinal cord itself sees added tension, which can decrease coordination, proprioception (your body’s sense of its own position), and overall neural health.
There’s hope! Changing your habits today does more than just make you comfortable—proper intervention reverses many symptoms and prevents long-term damage.
As chiropractors and spine health experts, it’s our job at Ke'Ale Chiropractic not just to address pain but to scout for the root causes. Every evaluation should include posture assessment, ergonomic education, and a blend of hands-on treatment (like gentle adjustments, muscle work, or even specialized stretches) with home strategies tailored to your device habits.
With screens now a non-negotiable piece of life, research is still catching up on just how impactful tech neck will be long-term. What we do know: early action works, and those who take steps now save themselves a lot of pain—and medical bills—down the line.
Can tech neck lead to permanent damage?
Chronic posture problems accelerate disc and joint degeneration in the neck. The sooner you intervene, the better your long-term outcome.
How fast can symptoms show up?
Sometimes within weeks of heavy device use, but often it’s a gradual process over months.
Are children at greater risk?
Absolutely—developing bodies and rising screen time make kids especially susceptible.
Can tech neck affect my jaw or breathing?
Yes. Jaw alignment and breathing mechanics are both altered by head-forward posture.
Will I need surgery?
Surgery is extremely rare for tech neck alone. With guided chiropractic care and exercise, most patients see excellent improvement.
Taylor, a 40-year-old VFX and content creator, spent up to 15 hours a day at the computer—no stranger to sore shoulders and nagging neck pain. After four years of these symptoms, he found Ke'Ale Chiropractic on Yelp, drawn by the praise of our patients. Thorough assessment led us to design a wellness plan not just for pain relief but to help Taylor reach personal goals—like losing 30 pounds and getting back to the gym.
After his first adjustment, Taylor felt remarkable improvements: less neck tension, headaches gone, and mental clarity restored. With regular care, he’s able to focus at work without interruption by pain. Like many of our long-term patients, Taylor discovered chiropractic is about boosting quality of life, not just managing pain.
Leslie, in her 30s, came to us with intense shoulder and neck stiffness, especially on the right. Our exam revealed lasting muscle tension and adhesions, as well as a troubling reverse curve in her cervical spine—likely from long hours at her computer and less-than-ideal posture. Her very first adjustment was dramatic, instantly relieving her pain and reducing shoulder tension.
Ongoing care, including targeted upper back and neck techniques, helps Leslie keep work tension in check. Now, weekly sessions aren’t just relief—they make her feel lighter and happier, crediting the endorphin boost and freedom from chronic discomfort for her brighter outlook.
At Ke'Ale Chiropractic, we see—and successfully treat—the real effects of screen time, every day. Don’t wait until a stiff neck becomes an obstacle to your work, your mood, or your future. Start making positive changes today, and let us help you rediscover ease in movement.
