Tech Neck

Tech Neck is presently such an issue that it’s becoming uncommon to meet anyone who hasn’t yet heard the term. Even more uncommon is to meet someone who doesn’t spend long hours on the computer (yes, hand held devices count!). Other everyday activities that contribute to this problem include driving and any work involving holding the arms in front or above the body/head. Poor posture can also exacerbate the issue. 

If you are reading this, chances are you have (or someone you care about has) a case of Tech Neck. This is usually characterized by stiffness, pain, and/or some limited range of motion (eg., inability to rotate head to right or left without some discomfort). 

It’s not uncommon for there to be some stiffness and soreness and tension in the upper back, as well. In medium to severe cases, both shoulder and hip girdles may be involved (this is much more common than one might want to believe, and is often what I discover in the clinic - after all, the spine connects them both, and issues in the upper body will affect the lower body and vice versa, especially if left unresolved for more than a couple months). There may even be intermittent numbness or tingling down either arm into the hand.

As if that weren’t enough, there may also be headaches. Many headaches are rooted in musculoskeletal tension and dysfunction. It’s with some frequency that we meet patients who have been diagnosed with “mysterious” or otherwise vague conditions with regards to their recurring headaches, who are able to experience significant reduction in frequency and intensity of headaches with acupuncture treatments aimed at releasing long-held (and often unidentified) tension patterns. They often experience other benefits as well, such as better sleep, more energy, and less stress. 

The major muscles often involved include the SCM (big name for such a small muscle: sternocleidomastoid), scalenes, levators, and upper trapezius. But these are just the more surface level muscles and more often than not, deeper stabilizer muscles are also involved.

Fortunately, with careful observation, assessment, and palpation, we are able to accurately determine which muscles are involved, and place acupuncture needles in the proper trigger points to release them. Patients more often than not experience relief in just one appointment.