Tech Neck and the Sedentary Generation

Bottom Line
Your kid isn't even a teenager yet, and they're already complaining about a stiff neck or slouching over a tablet the way you slouch over your laptop after a long day. It's easy to brush this off as just modern life. It's also worth paying attention to.
Why It Matters
The average head weighs around 10 to 12 pounds in a neutral position, but tilting forward to look down at a screen can place significantly more load on the neck and spine, in some estimates as much as 60 pounds at a 60-degree angle. Kids are spending more hours than ever in that forward-head posture, at younger ages, while their spines are still developing. Add in less outdoor play and fewer varied movement patterns, and it's a setup for the aches and stiffness parents assume only comes with age.

• Prolonged forward-head posture places extra mechanical stress on the developing cervical spine.
• Reduced variety in movement, from more screen time and less active play, can affect strength and flexibility from an early age.
• Postural habits formed in childhood often carry into adulthood, making early attention to posture and movement a long-term investment, not just a quick fix.

Next Steps
You don't have to wait for your child to complain about pain before addressing posture and movement. Join us at the Raising a Resilient Family seminar to learn practical ways to counteract tech neck and help your family's spine handle the demands of modern life.
Science Source(s)
Hansraj KK. "Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head." Surgical Technology International, 2014.
​