What is Tech Neck? How to Relieve Shoulder and Neck Pain with Quercetin and Other Natural Solutions

Neck and shoulder pain, or “tech neck,” is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders affecting people who use technology for work and leisure. If you experience chronic neck, shoulder, or back pain, natural solutions, including quercetin, can help.

Today’s article will dive into tech neck and the available solutions. We’ll cover:

• What is tech neck?
• How to relieve neck and shoulder pain
• Quercetin supplements for pain relief

What is Tech Neck?

Tech neck is the chronic pain, soreness, and stiffness associated with poor body positioning when using electronic devices. When your head and shoulders slump forward while using your phone, computer, or tablet, it can cause:

• Poor posture and misalignment
• Muscle changes and damage
• Inflammation
• Headaches
• Shoulder pain
• Back pain
• Head and neck pain
• Jaw pain
• Pinched nerves

“Tech neck is the chronic pain, soreness, and stiffness associated with poor body positioning when using electronic devices.”

The body is meant to hold the head upright, and deviating from normal positioning can have unintended consequences over time as the system tries to adapt or overcompensate for the new movement patterns.

Pain becomes chronic pain when it lasts more than several months, affecting quality of life. (Source 1)

Research suggests that phone use duration correlates neck pain severity. In other words, the more you use your phone, the worse the pain can get. Computer and internet use are also associated with musculoskeletal problems, including headaches and back pain. (Source 2, 3)

“Research suggests that phone use duration correlates neck pain severity.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, neck pain increased among college students due to more time on devices for distance learning. Besides long periods using devices, other contributing factors to neck pain include:

• Lack of exercise
• Poor sitting posture
• History of neck or shoulder injury
• Stress (Source 4)

How to Relieve Shoulder and Neck Pain

Understanding the causes of pain is essential for relieving it. If poor posture is the primary cause of shoulder and neck pain, the main treatment is correcting bad habits and improving body positioning when using technology. Some strategies can include:

• Being mindful of posture
• Using an app to help remind about correct posture
• Creating an ergonomic setup for computer work where the screen is at eye level
• Using an ergonomic chair or standing desk
• Using posture-correcting devices

Additionally, reducing time on devices, including smartphones, can help prevent and relieve pain.

As you correct body positioning, the next step is to do head, neck, and shoulder stretches and exercises to correct imbalances and restore proper function. A physical therapist can be helpful.

One study found four weeks of regular stretching improved neck pain and function in office workers. Another study found that ergonomics and exercise training were more effective than health promotion for reducing pain. (Source 5, 6)

Quercetin Supplements for Pain

Improving posture, setting up an ergonomically friendly workstation, and incorporating stretching and exercise into your routine can take some time. While you work to implement these foundations, pain-relieving supplements like quercetin can help provide support and relief.

Quercetin by Core Med Science is a well-studied flavonoid compound in plants like onions, apples, capers, and grapes. Quercetin is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound with powerful health benefits. (Source 7)

In a series of preclinical studies, quercetin shows promise in reducing inflammation, neuroinflammation (brain inflammation), and oxidative stress. The overall result is a reduction in chronic pain. (Source 1)

Learn more about quercetin’s role in pain relief in our blog article, “When Chronic Pain Becomes Too Much, Try Quercetin.”

Core Med Science Liposomal Quercetin offers 200 milligrams of this potent flavonoid per serving. The liposomal delivery system increases quercetin absorption by up to 20 times compared to non-liposomal, standard formulas. (Source 8)

If you suffer from tech neck and want to make a change, quercetin can provide support while you work on making the necessary lifestyle adjustments to prevent pain. It’s an excellent remedy to keep on hand!

“If you suffer from tech neck and want to make a change, quercetin can provide support while you work on making the necessary lifestyle adjustments to prevent pain. It’s an excellent remedy to keep on hand!”

References:

1. Liu C, Liu DQ, Tian YK, et al. The Emerging Role of Quercetin in the Treatment of Chronic Pain. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2022;20(12):2346-2353. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9890298/
2. Al-Hadidi F, Bsisu I, AlRyalat SA, et al. Association between mobile phone use and neck pain in university students: A cross-sectional study using numeric rating scale for evaluation of neck pain. PLoS One. 2019;14(5):e0217231. Published 2019 May 20. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6527223/
3. Borhany T, Shahid E, Siddique WA, Ali H. Musculoskeletal problems in frequent computer and internet users. J Family Med Prim Care. 2018;7(2):337-339. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6060916/
4. Gao Y, Chen Z, Chen S, Wang S, Lin J. Risk factors for neck pain in college students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2023;23(1):1502. Published 2023 Aug 8. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10408143/
5. Tunwattanapong, P., Kongkasuwan, R., & Kuptniratsaikul, V. (2016). The effectiveness of a neck and shoulder stretching exercise program among office workers with neck pain: a randomized controlled trial. Clinical rehabilitation, 30(1), 64–72. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25780258/
6. Johnston V, Chen X, Welch A, et al. A cluster-randomized trial of workplace ergonomics and neck-specific exercise versus ergonomics and health promotion for office workers to manage neck pain - a secondary outcome analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2021;22(1):68. Published 2021 Jan 12. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7805092/
7. Anand David AV, Arulmoli R, Parasuraman S. Overviews of Biological Importance of Quercetin: A Bioactive Flavonoid. Pharmacogn Rev. 2016;10(20):84-89. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5214562/
8. Riva A, Ronchi M, Petrangolini G, Bosisio S, Allegrini P. Improved Oral Absorption of Quercetin from Quercetin Phytosome®, a New Delivery System Based on Food Grade Lecithin. Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 2019;44(2):169-177. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6418071/