We see many patients experiencing neck pain in Newport, and more often than not, modern habits are to blame. Hours spent hunched over phones, laptops, and tablets make it easy to forget about posture until the stiffness and pain set in. That dull ache at the back of your head or the tightness across your shoulders isn’t always simple tension; it could be tech neck.
What Exactly Is Tech Neck?
Tech neck, also known as text neck, is a modern term for neck pain and stiffness caused by repeatedly bending your head forward to look at screens. When your head tilts forward even a few centimetres, the weight on your neck increases dramatically. Over time, this strain can lead to muscle fatigue, tension headaches, reduced mobility, and even long-term postural changes.
The rise of smartphones and remote work means more people than ever are seeking help for neck pain in Newport. It’s not limited to office workers, as students, gamers, and anyone who spends long periods glued to their devices can also experience it.
What Causes Tech/Text Neck
There’s no single culprit, but a few everyday habits can contribute, including –
- Spending long hours at a desk without taking short breaks.
- Looking down at your phone for long stretches of time.
- Working on a laptop that sits too low on your desk.
- Sitting with slouched shoulders and a forward head posture.
- Poor ergonomic setup at home or work.
Recognising the Symptoms
Tech neck doesn’t always appear suddenly; it often builds gradually until pain and stiffness become part of your daily routine. Some of the common symptoms of this problem include –
- A constant ache or sharp pain in your neck or upper back.
- Tightness in your shoulders and jaw.
- Frequent headaches, especially at the back of your head.
- Reduced range of motion in your neck.
- Tingling or numbness in your arms or hands in severe cases.
If these symptoms sound familiar, it’s worth booking an assessment to rule out other underlying causes and start targeted treatment. Our physios see many patients with neck pain in Newport caused by exactly these issues.
Proven Treatments That Work
The right treatment for tech neck depends on how long you’ve had the symptoms and their severity. Physiotherapy remains one of the most effective solutions because it targets both the pain and the underlying mechanics causing it.
Your treatment may include any of the following –
- Manual therapy to release the tight muscles and restore mobility.
- Targeted exercises to strengthen your postural muscles.
- Dry needling or soft tissue release for pain relief.
- Postural correction and ergonomic education.
- Heat therapy and relaxation techniques.
How Physiotherapy Helps
Physiotherapy plays a vital role in managing tech neck by addressing both short-term relief and long-term prevention. We treat neck pain at our Newport clinic using a combination of hands-on therapy and practical education.
We’ll help you –
- Understand how posture affects your neck and spine.
- Rebuild strength in your neck’s stabilising muscles.
- Learn safe stretches to release tension throughout the day.
- Adjust your workstation to support a neutral spine.
- Develop habits that reduce the strain from screens.
Preventing Tech Neck for Good
While treatment is important, prevention is even better, and once you’ve experienced neck pain, you’ll want to avoid it returning in the future. Here are a few simple strategies to help prevent tech neck –
- Keep your screen at eye level with no bending or hunching forward.
- Keep changing your posture and/or take short breaks every 30 minutes to stretch or stand.
- Strengthen your upper back and trunk to support your posture.
- Use a headset for phone calls instead of cradling your phone to your shoulder.
Take the Strain Off Your Neck
Tech neck might be a modern problem, but awareness of the issue, adopting better daily habits, and regular physiotherapy at our Newport clinic if neck pain persists, can make a lasting difference to how your body feels and functions.