British doctors say they are caring for a growing number of patients, particularly smartphone users, who need it Botox piercings to treat “tech neck” – pain and inflammation from time hunched over devices.
The injections are used to combat tension headaches, muscle spasms and even bony spurs – painful growths in the neck joints due to poor posture, with some sufferers having repeat injections every six to nine months.
Doctors warn the problem is likely to be even worse for the younger generation growing up with smartphones, reports The Telegraph.
Dr Christopher Rowland Payne, one of the UK’s leading dermatologists who runs a private clinic in London, said he treated up to 100 patients a year with Botox to relieve neck pain often caused by bending over digital devices.
“It’s becoming more common because people spend so much time on their phones and computers,” he said.
Dr Ashwin Soni, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in London, said: “The number of patients needing Botox injections for this type of neck pain is definitely on the rise.
“Many of them are in pain because they constantly bend their neck forward and don’t pay attention to their posture. I probably see up to 10 patients a month right now and most of them are over 40.”
“Traptox” popularity.
Botox is usually injected into the trapezius muscles at the back of the neck to relax them and improve mobility.
The piercing has become so popular that it is known in cosmetic surgery circles as “traptox”.
Soni said: “Some people are looking for a quick fix. But I only give one or two jabs and then I recommend that they see a physiotherapist or do yoga or pilates to improve their mobility and posture.”
Dr Rowland Payne and Zoe Barley, medical student from King’s College Londonpresented new research on the rise of “tech neck” at its first meeting Royal Society of Medicineof the Department of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery, held recently in London.
He showed that in an upright position, the human head weighs 5 kilograms. This is the load placed on the upper spine.
But at an angle of 30 degrees, the force increases to 18 kg.
And at 45 degrees – the angle at which many smartphone users place their heads – it jumps to 22kg.
Hazards to children
In a report on the research, Barley said: “This is the equivalent of a seven-year-old child draped around the neck. And now the problem is shifting more towards children.
“Digital devices are widely used in schools now and yes, they have obvious educational benefits, but many teachers may not be aware of the risks to these children later in life.”
Research has shown that children and teenagers between the ages of eight and 18 spend an average of 3.75 hours a day glued to their smartphones alone.
Adults are on them for even longer—an average of more than five hours a day.
Doctors say they are starting to see a greater number of cases where children suffer from tension headaches, torticollis – where neck muscle spasms tilt the head to one side – and reduced mobility due to bending their heads to reach phones their.
Previous studies have shown that up to 48% of UK workers have neck problems at least partly related to using digital devices.
Simple preventative measures include keeping smartphones at eye level as much as possible and ensuring computers at work and school are also elevated so the head is upright.
Payne said anyone using their phones should “sit up and hold it in front of their face to ease the pressure on their neck”.
The Telegraph article – Surprising cure ‘tech neck’ sufferers embrace (Restricted access)
See more from the MedicalBrief archives:
Stuck on our screens and trying to break away
Botox reduces the frequency of chronic migraines—A French meta-analysis
How to get rid of cell phone addiction – and other bad habits
Limiting Screen Time After Concussion Reduces Duration of Symptoms – US Clinical Trial
