Wear and Tear of the Cervical Spine

[EngMac]

When the head is in a neutral position - with no bend in the neck - the pressure on the spine is 10 to 12 pounds, about the weight of your head. But when the neck bends down by just 15 degrees, the pressure increases to 27 pounds. A 45 degree tilt adds up to 50 pounds according to a 2014 study published in Surgical Technology International. Constant downward tilting of the head could lead to early wear and tear of the cervical spine, "and possibly surgeries," wrote the paper's author, Dr. Kenneth Hansraj, a spine surgeon in New York.

So it is likely true that spending hours a day hunched over a mobile device can be a pain in the neck, not to mention the shoulders and upper back.

If you go to a surgeon, you will get a surgery solution. Perhaps, you should first go to a chiropractor for a non- surgery solution.

This perhaps is why more and more people are getting AF. Perhaps, previously work done by people, where the head was tilted when performing a task, there were more breaks where the head was raised. Now people tend not to take breaks when on devices and often have their head titled the 45 degrees.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sure you are right but what is the AF connection? When I worked in an office I sat on a wedge cushion to promote correct lordosis.

[EngMac]

Hi BobD, you are one of the smarter people who knew this could be an issue. I did not unfortunately. My experience has indicated AF could be caused by sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves being impacted in the spine. If you read my recent posts, I have explained the reasoning behind my belief that this is possible.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to EngMac]

Had a C4/5 disc rupture many years ago following an argument with an Alfasud so had to learn the hard way.

[millie-becca-187]

Your article is interesting. My af started after I had a C5/6 disc replacement.

My constant head tilting is a hazard of my job, marking books etc, as I'm a teacher.

[carsanrey]

Thank you.