What Is Tech Neck?

At Pennant Hills Chiropractic, we’re seeing more and more patients—young and old—coming in with similar complaints: tight neck and shoulder muscles, dull headaches, stiffness, and upper back pain. The culprit? Tech Neck, also known as Tension Neck Syndrome.

What Is Tech Neck?

Tech Neck is a modern postural condition caused by prolonged use of electronic devices—phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. When your head juts forward and down repeatedly throughout the day, it puts excessive strain on the muscles, joints, and ligaments in your neck and upper back. Over time, this leads to chronic tension and discomfort.

Common Symptoms of Tech Neck:

• Stiffness and pain in the neck and shoulders

• Headaches that start at the base of the skull

• Tingling or numbness in the arms or hands

• Fatigue or heaviness in the upper back

• Reduced range of motion in the neck
  

Why It Happens:

Your head weighs approximately 4.5 to 5.5kg, but tilting it forward by just 15 degrees increases the load on your cervical spine to over 12kg. At 60 degrees (the average angle while looking at your phone), the neck supports over 27kg of pressure! That’s like carrying a small child on your neck… for hours a day.

How Chiropractic Can Help:

At Pennant Hills Chiropractic, we take a wholistic approach to treating Tech Neck:

1. Postural Assessment
    We assess your spinal alignment, muscle tension, and posture habits to understand the root cause of your symptoms.

2. Chiropractic Adjustments
    Gentle spinal adjustments help restore proper joint movement and relieve nerve pressure.

3. Soft Tissue Therapy
    We use techniques to release tight muscles and fascia, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

4. Home Exercise & Ergonomic Advice
    We’ll guide you through stretches, strengthening exercises, and workstation setup tips to help correct your posture and prevent recurrence.