Dr Karishma's take on Tech Neck
Dr Karishma was recently featured in Vogue India, where she spoke about a rising modern-day issue: Tech Neck—a modern posture problem
‘Tech neck’ and the modern posture problem
Dr Karishma Sanghavi, sports physiotherapist and certified MDT, believes we’re already in the early stages of a posture epidemic. “With access to technology not just for work, but for leisure, socialising and entertainment, we are looking at our screens for almost 8–12 hours per day, often in slouched and static positions. We are seeing people in their 20s and 30s with chronic pain. Also, after COVID, many corporations have adapted to work-from-home, allowing employees to work from their beds, couches, or non-ergonomic desk arrangements, contributing further to the ‘posture epidemic,’” she says.
How tech neck affects you
Once associated with ageing, the Dowager’s hump—an excessive rounding of the upper back—is now increasingly common in younger people. The rise of tech neck, driven by hours hunched over screens, is accelerating postural decline. Dr Karishma Sanghavi warns that poor posture can trigger a cascade of issues, from spinal problems and poor balance leading to an increased risk of falls to reduced lung capacity and altered mental health. Hunching causes the chest and lungs to collapse and reduces oxygen intake capacity. Poor posture also slows the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) around the brain and spinal cord, potentially affecting brain waste clearance and contributing to brain fog or fatigue. The vagus nerve is your body’s built-in calming system. When compressed by the hunched posture, it leads to poor emotional regulation, increased stress reactivity, and reduced resilience to anxiety.”
