How texting puts 60lbs of pressure on your spine

Texting can put up to four stone of extra weight on your spine as you hunch over your phone – the equivalent of three car tyres.

And this pressure on the cervical vertebrae in the neck can cause long term damage, researchers have warned.


The human head weighs between ten and 12lbs when it is upright, the US scientists said. But tilting your head by 15 degrees adds an extra 27lbs, with more weight added the further you lean. A 60 degree angle adds as much as 60lbs (four stone).

The report, published in Surgical Technology International, said: ‘These stresses may lead to early wear, tear, degeneration and possibly surgeries.’

The scientists encouraged users to adopt good posture, which they defined as having the ears aligned with the shoulders and the shoulders set back.

Lead researcher Dr Kenneth Hansraj, of the New York Spine Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, added: ‘While it is nearly impossible to avoid the technologies that cause these issues, individuals should make an effort to look at their phones with a neutral spine and to avoid spending hours each day hunched over.’

Bad posture has been linked to a range of other conditions, including heart problems, headaches and constipation, while good posture reduces the production of the stress hormone cortisol.