Look Who it Was Random video

Giving Your Neck a Break

135 views · Published 7 December 2015 · 1:38 · Indexed 30 October 2026

Channel: Lee Health · 2015 · Science & Technology

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Admit it, we’re all guilty of being tied to our phones and personal devices. Doctor’s say it’s a practice that’s wrecking our health.

“Absolutely. A lot of the things we’re doing with electronic devices have us in positions that are pretty unnatural for us,” says Dr. Andrew Gross, who is a pain management specialist on medical staff of Lee Memorial Health System. 
Too much texting is taxing basal joints in the thumb and aggravating elbows in the process. Perhaps worst of all: bending over smart phones and tablets is creating chronic back and neck pain.

“The biggest problem you see is people constantly staring downward, people constantly hunched over, that creates a lot of stiffness,” says Dr. Gross. 
Chances are we aren’t ready to give up our tech devices, but you can play it smart with your smart phone. By giving your back and neck a break to counter-act the daily pressure of staying in touch.

“Doing exercises like stretching in the doorway or just doing neck pushes to try to get your neck to extend fully back or really practicing good posture with the shoulders back where they’re almost straight across from each other,” says Dr. Gross. 
Activities that keep the body aligned help maintain posture.
“Things like Pilates, yoga, are really good types of exercises. Swimming is excellent because you really extend everything, you keep your neck pretty straight, your back pretty straight,” says Dr. Gross. 
And don’t underestimate a good chair, whether you’re on your device or not. An ergonomic chair may cost a bit more, but save you a lifetime of pain.

“You want to try to maintain all the natural curvatures that your body’s been given,” says Dr. Gross. 
It is possible to be tech savvy and body conscious at the same time. 

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

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