Look up, says expert
Could we be hurting our spines through excessive smartphone use? A chiropractor says increased smartphone use can lead to wear and tear on the spine or 'text neck'.
Earlier this month, PricewaterhouseCoopers released its Entertainment and Media Outlook 2015 to 2019 earlier this month.
It says smartphone use in South Africa has increased from 23-million in 2014 to 28-million this year.
Chiropractor Dr Robert Delgado says the flexed, looking down position people assume when using devices for a long time leads to 'text neck'.
"We are seeing it a lot more in practice that people are injuring themselves because of the overuse of technology. The long-term effects can change the alignment of the posture over time so that you get that rounded posture at the top of the spine.
"This can damage the joints of the spine, the ligaments and the discs which can then enflame the nerves," he said.
(File photo: Getty Images)