Green Child Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 14

Tech Neck How to relieve neck pain and improve your posture without giving up your devices. |by Megan McCoy Dellecese “Tech Neck” sounds like a gimmicky new trend ailment, but if you’ve ever experienced the neck pain that comes from overuse of your cell phone, tablet, gaming console or computer, you know it’s a real thing. It can affect any technology users, young or old. “Repetitive postures, such as leaning your head forward or extending your arms, put strain on your neck and shoulders. This 14 causes cellular dehydration, as your body works to hold and support this posture,” says Sue Hitzmann, creator of the MELT method, a simple self-treatment method for chronic pain. Massage therapist Gina Englert, LMT says that handheld devices, especially, encourage bad posture. “Our shoulders are rounded,