A recent story in the Washington Post story suggests that cellphone use by teens and younger children may by causing horns and bone spurs to grow from their skulls due to poor posture and leaning down while looking at cellular devices. While 2016 and 2018 research in Australia has shown some possible back-of-the-head and upper-neck bony changes in Australian youth, there is nothing in the research connecting cell phone use and changes in skeletons. The researchers made no claim of a relationship between bony changes and device use. The Washington Post reporter originated this idea.
Posture does matter, however. Poor posture can lead to malalignment of the spine, resulting in chronic pain in the neck, upper and lower spine, hips and knees. Fatigue, depression, cognitive (thinking) changes and even impaired breathing are other possible outcomes of chronic poor posture.
Many Americans have very poor posture due to such activities as flying, driving, and using computers or cellular devices. It’s important to be mindful about posture and to practice techniques to improve it in order to avoid the outcomes just mentioned.
Helpful exercises include:
Stand, up elongate your spine with your head held high, perform shoulder rolls and pinch your shoulder blades together
Perform back extensions while resting and while watching TV
Perform “wall angels” to strengthen the muscles between your shoulder blades