Got ‘tech neck’? Here are some tips to stop the pain

Walk into any coffee shop, airport, or waiting room, and you will see people in the familiar pose — head down, eyes fixed on a handheld device. With prolonged use, they will likely start feeling the effects, such as pain, stiffness, and discomfort, known as “tech neck” or “text neck.”

Americans spend an average of four to six hours a day looking at mobile devices or tablets, often not even realizing their necks are bent. The average head weighs 11 pounds. Bending the neck more than 20 degrees to view a smartphone or tablet puts excessive strain from head weight on the posterior neck muscles and places stress on the cervical spine. Along with neck pain, it can also cause discomfort or inflammation in the upper back, and the shoulders.

Dr. Phil Grattan, a physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic specialist, shares some insights on the condition. Grattan is also an assistant professor at the University of Miami  department of physical therapy in the Miller School of Medicine and says tech users need to increase their awareness of tech neck.

Grattan said people need to be more aware of how much total time they spend looking down at their devices, how long they stare at a screen without taking a break, and the early signs of neck pain or other symptoms.

“This is totally something created by us and modifications can help a lot,” Grattan said.

To prevent neck pain, Grattan recommends these steps:

• Take breaks every 10-20 minutes.
• Keep the head straight and bring the phone directly in front of you, not towards one side.
• Position your smartphone or tablet as close to eye-level as possible.
• Make use of heads up or posture protector apps that remind you not to bend your neck.

To alleviate pain, he recommends these actions:

• Take a break from using the device and try to straighten your neck, gently moving it from side to side to loosen the muscle
• Work with a physical therapist on postural awareness and a customized ergonomic set up of your work station and tech use.
• Do regular neck stretches
• Do postural and neck strengthening exercises
• Work with a physical therapist who may do manual therapy including soft tissue massage
• If neck pain is severe or persists, seek out a medical professional.

Promising breast cancer vaccine trials

A groundbreaking breast cancer vaccine created from research at the Cleveland Clinic and developed by Anixa Biosciences is moving toward the second stage of clinical trials and will soon enroll Floridians. The vaccine is aimed at preventing triple-negative breast cancer, the disease’s deadliest and most aggressive form.

“This vaccine could potentially eliminate breast cancer,” Dr. Amit Kumar, Anixa CEO, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “It uses a different molecular approach, which is why we think it will be successful.”

The vaccine targets a lactation protein that is no longer found after lactation in normal breast tissues but is present in most triple-negative breast cancers. If breast cancer develops, the vaccine is designed to prompt the immune system to attack the tumor and keep it from growing.

During phase 1, the vaccine was given to patients at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio in three different groups: patients who completed treatment but at risk for recurrence; patients with a genetic mutation who elected a preventative mastectomy to lower their risk; and patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who had chemoimmunotherapy and surgery and have residual cancer in the breast tissue, creating a risk of recurrence.

The study team found that the vaccine was generally well tolerated by all and produced an immune response in most patients. “The data looks better than any other vaccine trial before,” Kumar said.

Anixa is planning a phase 2 study at 20 sites, including Cleveland Clinic Florida, to evaluate the vaccine’s efficacy. The trial is expected to begin in late 2025 and last approximately two to three years. “We will have a control group that will allow us to tell how good this vaccine is,” Kumar said.

For eligibility requirements visit clinicaltrials.gov.