13 August 2025

Tech Neck and How Chiropractic Care Can Help

In today’s screen-heavy world, “tech neck” has become a modern-day epidemic. Whether you’re working on a laptop, scrolling through your phone, or binge-watching your favorite series, chances are your posture is paying the price.

Tech neck is more than just occasional stiffness—it can lead to chronic pain, headaches, and long-term spinal issues if left untreated. The good news? Chiropractic care offers a natural, drug-free way to relieve symptoms, restore posture, and protect your neck from future strain.

What Is Tech Neck?

Tech neck, also known as forward head posture, happens when you spend extended periods with your head tilted forward and down—like when looking at a phone or computer screen. Over time, this position puts excessive stress on the muscles, ligaments, and joints in your neck and upper back.

Common Symptoms of Tech Neck

You might have tech neck if you experience:

Neck stiffness or soreness
Pain between the shoulder blades
Headaches, especially at the base of the skull
Tingling or numbness in the arms or hands
Reduced neck mobility
Poor posture with rounded shoulders

How Tech Neck Affects Your Health

Holding your head forward just 15 degrees adds about 27 pounds of pressure to your neck. At 60 degrees, it’s more like 60 pounds—imagine carrying a small child on your neck all day! Over time, this strain can cause:

Muscle fatigue and tightness
Joint misalignments
Early degenerative changes in the spine
Nerve irritation leading to pain, weakness, or numbness

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Chiropractors address both the symptoms and the root cause of tech neck through targeted treatments and lifestyle guidance.

1. Correcting Spinal Alignment

Gentle chiropractic adjustments help realign the vertebrae, reduce joint stress, and improve posture.

2. Relieving Muscle Tension

Soft tissue techniques, stretching, and trigger point therapy can ease tight muscles and restore mobility.

3. Reducing Nerve Irritation

Misalignments can pinch or irritate nerves in the neck and upper back. Adjustments relieve this pressure, often reducing pain and tingling.

4. Posture Coaching

Your chiropractor can teach ergonomic adjustments for your workspace and phone use to help prevent tech neck from returning.

5. Strengthening & Stretching Exercises

Customized exercise plans help build neck, shoulder, and upper back strength to support better posture long-term.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Tech Neck

Natural, drug-free pain relief
Improved posture and alignment
Reduced muscle tension and stiffness
Increased mobility and flexibility
Prevention of long-term spinal damage

When to See a Chiropractor

If you have ongoing neck pain, stiffness, headaches, or posture changes from screen use, don’t ignore it—tech neck tends to get worse over time. Clearwater chiropractor, Frank V. Sessa, D.C. can assess your spine, correct misalignments, and give you tools to protect your neck for the future.

Bottom line: Tech neck may be a modern problem, but it has a time-tested solution. Chiropractic care can restore your posture, ease your pain, and keep you moving comfortably—so you can enjoy your tech without sacrificing your neck.