The old saying goes – it’s always something! That is certainly true in the world of risk management. And that something is: Tech Neck.
I am not sure who coined the term Tech Neck (sometimes Text Neck), but it sure is fitting. Tech Neck (TN) is becoming a global epidemic, so much so that it has its own website dedicated to finding a cure. Google Trends shows tech neck started in 2007. The cure is simple – give up the darn cell phone and go back to looking people in the eye (so long as they are the same height as you).
As safety and risk management professionals, we need to be aware of the effects of using our smart phones all day. We need to understand how to combat TN with ergonomics, proper techniques and time management.
What is text neck? The Tech Neck Institute defines it as “overuse syndrome involving the head, neck and shoulders, usually resulting from excessive strain on the spine from looking in a forward and downward position at any hand held mobile device, i.e., mobile phone, video game unit, computer, mp3 player, e-reader. This can cause headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, breathing compromise, and much more. ”