Published Mar 11, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 11, 2026 | 7:00 AM
Representational image. Credit: iStock
Synopsis: Doctors are warning of a surge in “tech neck,” a posture problem caused by prolonged screen use. Once limited to mid‑career professionals, it now affects teenagers and young adults, leading to stiffness, pain, and early spinal degeneration. Experts say poor posture and long hours on phones and laptops could trigger chronic spine issues if habits don’t change.
Technology connects us, but overuse is quietly disconnecting us from our health. Doctors say it may be time to correct “tech neck” — a condition caused by repeatedly bending the neck forward while using phones, laptops or other screens for long periods — before poor posture turns into a long-term spine problem.
What once affected mostly mid-career professionals is now appearing far earlier. Orthopaedic specialists say the widespread use of smartphones and long hours in front of screens are pushing the body into a posture it was never designed to maintain for hours together.
The result is a growing number of young people reporting persistent neck pain, stiffness and early spinal degeneration. While it may seem minor at first, doctors warn that ignoring it could eventually lead to chronic pain and long-term spine problems if habits do not change.
Doctors say this problem develops when the head tilts forward while looking at screens for extended periods, forcing the neck muscles to carry more weight than they normally should.
“A decade ago, we mostly saw software professionals with neck pain after five or ten years of work,” said Dr. Saravanan Manoharan, senior consultant, department of orthopaedics, MGM Healthcare.
“Now we are seeing teenagers and young adults coming with similar complaints because they spend long hours looking down at their phones,” he told South First.
He explained that when the head bends forward, the natural balance of the spine changes. “Ideally, if you drop a line from the ear, it should pass through the centre of the body,” he said. “But when the neck moves forward, the muscles at the back of the neck have to work much harder to hold the head.”
Dr. Manoharan said prolonged strain can gradually lead to cervical disc degeneration and chronic neck pain. He added that many patients arrive at clinics only after pain becomes persistent and does not improve with painkillers or physiotherapy.
Similarly, Dr. Ravi Sankar Kirubanandan, senior consultant – orthopaedics, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, said the condition has become extremely common among young professionals.
According to him, doctors are increasingly seeing patients between 21-30 years reporting stiff neck and persistent discomfort.
“This is extremely common nowadays, particularly among the younger generation trying to build their careers,” he explained to South First. “They work for long hours on laptops or phones without paying attention to posture.”
Experts say the problem is particularly common among people working long hours in front of screens, especially in technology-driven professions.
Dr. Kirubanandan said the problem often develops because people remain in a single position while focusing on their screens.
“The eyes and brain are constantly working on the screen, but the muscles in the neck do not get time to relax,” he said. “If someone works eight hours a day like this with very few breaks, it puts enormous stress on the neck.”
He added that the damage may not appear immediately but builds up gradually. Over months or years, repetitive strain can lead to stiffness, muscle fatigue and persistent pain.
Dr. Manoharan noted that smartphones have made the situation worse because people tend to hold their devices below eye level. “When the neck stays in a flexed position for a long time, the pressure on the cervical discs increases significantly,” he said. “This leads to muscle strain and irritation.”
He explained that the head’s weight, when tilted forward, shifts away from the spine’s natural balance point. Because of this, the neck muscles have to constantly work to prevent the head from falling forward.
“That continuous overwork of the muscles eventually leads to pain and stiffness,” he added.
