If your neck aches after scrolling, you are not imagining it. “Text neck” is a modern strain pattern caused by hours of looking down at phones and devices, and it is showing up in patients of every age. At The Spine and Wellness Center in Coral Springs, Dr. Jared Cohen, DC helps people across Coral Springs and Parkland reverse this posture problem before it becomes chronic pain.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jared Cohen, DC · Updated June 2026

What is text neck?

Text neck is the repetitive strain that develops in the neck and upper back from prolonged forward head posture, the position you fall into when you tilt your head down to look at a screen. Over time, this constant bend overloads the muscles, joints, and discs of the cervical spine. It is not a freak injury; it is the slow result of a habit most of us repeat hundreds of times a day.

The condition affects teenagers texting, adults working on laptops, and retirees reading tablets alike. Our text neck treatment is designed to relieve the strain and retrain the posture that causes it.

The surprising load of forward head posture

Your head is heavy, roughly 10 to 12 pounds in a neutral position. But the further forward it tilts, the more effective weight your neck must support, because the head acts like a weight on the end of a lever. Tilt your head down to look at a phone, and the strain on your cervical spine multiplies far beyond your head’s actual weight.

Hold that posture for hours, day after day, and the muscles fatigue, the joints compress, and the discs bear uneven pressure. The body adapts to the position you keep it in, and unfortunately, that adaptation is not in your favor.

Symptoms of text neck

• Aching or stiffness in the neck and upper shoulders
• Tension headaches, often starting at the base of the skull
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Reduced neck mobility or a feeling of tightness
• Tingling or numbness into the arms or hands in some cases
• Rounded shoulders and a visibly forward head position

Long-term risks if you ignore it

Left unaddressed, text neck can do more than cause daily aches. Sustained forward posture may accelerate wear on the cervical discs and joints, contribute to early degenerative changes, and reduce the natural curve of the neck that helps absorb load. Chronic muscle imbalance can also lock the upper back into a hunched position that becomes harder to correct the longer it persists.

The encouraging news is that posture is highly trainable. Caught early, text neck responds well to conservative care and consistent habits.

How chiropractic care corrects text neck

At our Coral Springs office, treatment starts by relieving the immediate strain and restoring healthy motion to the neck. Dr. Cohen uses gentle adjustments and targeted neck pain treatment to ease tension, while dedicated posture correction retrains the muscles and alignment that keep your head balanced over your shoulders. The goal is not just temporary relief but lasting change.

Patients from Coral Springs, Parkland, Margate, and Sunrise often combine in-office care with home exercises for the best results. Same-day appointments are frequently available, and we accept most major insurance.

Daily habits to prevent text neck

• Raise your phone to eye level instead of bending your neck down
• Take a posture break every 20 to 30 minutes
• Set your computer monitor so the top is at eye height
• Do gentle chin tucks to strengthen deep neck muscles
• Stretch your chest and upper back to counter rounding
• Be mindful of how long you spend looking down each day