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Here’s exactly why the weight of your head is causing problems

Posted at 7:19 PM, Feb 19, 2015
and last updated 2015-02-19 19:24:29-05

Text neck happens when people are hunched over looking at their electronic devices, for hours at a time, which really put an extreme load on the spine.

A recent study published in the journal 'Surgical Technology International' shows that when you are standing or sitting straight your head weighs, 10 to 12 lbs. on average.

But if you lean 15 degrees forward, the head weight is more like 27 lbs. With a 30-degree tilt, 40 lbs.

A 45-degree angle and it feels like 49 lbs.

And when you are hunched over at a 60-degree angle looking at a mobile device your head puts a 60 lbs. strain on your neck.

head titl

And that is putting extra pressure on the discs in the neck and spine, which causes increased compression and can lead to chronic neck and shoulder pain and severe headaches.

So what can you do?

You can do simple exercises by squeezing your shoulder blades together. You can practice keeping your neck back and keeping your ears over your shoulders.

And when using a mobile device try to keep it in front of you, don’t look down. All it takes is a little attention to stop this epidemic.