Cellular phone users addicted to “short messaging service" (SMS) may find immersing themselves in texting for extended periods could be quite a pain in the neck – literally! Chiropractor Dean L. Fishman of the University of Florida claims to have coined the term “text neck" which he defined as the “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," such as mobile phone, video game unit, computer, mp3 player, e-reader. Text neck “can cause headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, breathing compromise, and much more," according to this definition. Another term for text neck is “forward head posture."
According to orthopedic surgeon Noel Carilo – who is the chief resident for peripheral nerves at the St. Luke's Medical Center – many Filipinos who indulge in texting are most probably already suffering from this technologically spawned affliction. “I suppose about ten to 15 minutes of continuous texting in that particular position,
mararamdaman ninyo na ang pangangalay ng inyong leeg at ang inyong balikat," Dr. Carilo said.
“Nagiging tense ang ating mga muscles around the neck, mga muscles natin sa shoulders, yan ay magbibigay sa inyo ng pananakit sa pagkahuli kung ginagawa ninyo ang isang bagay pares ng ganyan na-pagte-text over a period of time," he explained further. In a report aired Monday night on GMA News TV’s evening newscast “SONA", reporter Pia Arcangel shared some tips on how to avoid this modern-day malady.
“Ayon sa mga doktor, maiiwasan ang text neck kung gagamitin lang ang tamang posisyon sa pagtext at paggamit ng computer," she said.
“Dapat naka-sandal ang inyong likod, bahagyang nakababa ang balikat, at nasa eyelevel ang cellphone o computer screen. Ito ang tinatawag nilang ergonomic recommendation."
“Hindi naman daw delikado o malubha ang problema ng text neck," she added.
“Pero kung ito'y chronic, o pabalik-balik, payo ng mga doktor agad nang magpakonsulta." — Marlon Anthony Tonson/RSJ, GMA News 
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