Back

New Data Reveals Tech Neck a Growing Public Health Concern

Australian Chiropractors Association

MEDIA ALERT: 30 April 2025

 

 

THE IMPACT OF TECH NECK & NECK PAIN IN AUSTRALIA – AN OVERVIEW

An Independent National Consumer Survey Conducted By Pureprofile

1019 Respondents | 522 Female | 497 Male

651 Reported Neck Pain (64%) | 353 Female (68%) | 298 Male (60%)

Neck Pain is Common & Gendered

• 64% of Australians reported experiencing neck pain: 68% of women and 60% of men.
• 70% of neck pain sufferers reported neck pain impeded their movement or daily activities.
• Women in every age group (except 51–60) reported higher neck pain rates than men.
• Women were 18% more likely to experience neck pain than men.
• The most affected group: Women aged 31–40 (73%).
• Correct posture, regular breaks and ergonomics while using devices had a significant impact on reducing the prevalence of neck pain for all devices.

Ergonomics & Gender Disparities

• Women were 23% more likely to sit at non-ergonomic desks at work - associated with a 16% higher neck pain prevalence (75% vs 64%) when compared to women using an ergonomic workspace.
• Women are 30% more likely than men to experience neck pain seated at a desk without ergonomics while using their tablet at work – 73% of women compared to 56% of men.
• Women were 31% more likely to slouch using laptops than men, with 86% of female slouchers experiencing neck pain compared to 75% of men.
• Female tablet users seated on the floor reported 79% higher neck pain prevalence than men.
• Men were 44% more likely to use tablets at ergonomic desks, experiencing 20.4% less neck pain than women in the same setup.

Posture & Device Use Patterns

• Holding a smartphone at eye level, the recommended position, was associated with the lowest neck pain prevalence (64%) but was only used by only 37.5% of smartphone users.
• The most common posture (56%) was bending the neck to look down, with 72% reporting neck pain.
• 20% of respondents walked while looking down at their phones; 74% reporting neck pain.
• Women were significantly more likely to: Slouch or lean back while using devices at work (+41% with phones); use devices on the floor, with higher pain rates and use non-ergonomic setups at home and work.
• 20% of respondents check their smartphone every 30-60mins, 13.5% every 10-30mins, 6% every 5-10mins.

Perception: Neck Pain & Device Use

• DEVICE USE LINKED TO NECK PAIN:

• 45% of respondents said neck pain could be linked to device use. 35% said it “maybe linked”.
• Only 36% of neck pain sufferers thought their neck pain was linked to device use.

• NECK PAIN AFTER 15 MINS OF PHONE USE: 45% of respondents indicated neck pain was a problem when using a device for 15+ minutes.
• CONCERN FOR LENGTH OF TIME ON SMARTPHONE:
• 61% of women are concerned to some degree compared to 51% of men.
• 53% of respondents have some level of concern for the length of time spent on their smartphone with women 20% more concerned about the implications than men.

Neck Pain: Causes

• Medical Diagnosis: Only 33% of sufferers sought a medical diagnosis - 67% of neck pain sufferers have not.
• Only 29% had the cause of pain identified. The top two causes were degenerative (10%) and tech neck (6%).
• Top 6 Self-Reported Causes: Poor sleep (37%), Smartphone Use (28%), Aging (27%), Home Computer Use (24%), Work Computer Use (22%) and Stress (19%).

Device Duration & Pain

Neck pain increases with screen time:

• 42% of smartphone users spend between 2-6 hours daily; 47% of tablet users spend under 60mins daily.
• Across all devices, women reported 8–26% higher prevalence of neck pain than men for each timeframe.
• Women using smartphones 4–6 hours/day were 43% more likely to report pain than men (81% vs 56%).
• At 6–8 hours/day, women were 60% more likely to experience neck pain (70% vs 43%).

Impact on Daily Life

• 70% reported neck pain impeded their movement or daily activities. With exercise ceased or reduced by 24% of sufferers.
• 65% reported adverse effects from neck pain with women reporting 17% more adverse effects than men.
• Top effects: irritability (24%), sleep interference (23%), concentration difficulty (20%) sleep deprivation (16%).
• Women were:

• 75% more likely to develop chronic neck pain
• 43% more affected by productivity loss
• 41% more likely to report mental health/wellbeing impacts
• 33% more likely to experience depression/anxiety due to neck pain
• 22% more affected by significant pain than men

Pain Management & Prevention

• Medication:

• 78% took over-the-counter pain relief; the most common treatment method.
• 47% took prescription medication: 53% of men and 42% women.

• Chronic Pain: 26% of sufferers developed chronic neck pain (persisting for 3+ months or constantly recurring).
• 15% of neck pain sufferers required workers compensation.
• Medical/Healthcare Practitioner: 38% of neck pain sufferers did not consult a practitioner.
• Chiropractic: 73% of chiropractic users reported improvement in neck pain.
• Lifestyle Changes:

• 19% have changed how they physically use devices.
• 66% of sufferers were willing to improve posture, and 63% to exercise/stretch more.
• Women were 28% more likely to reduce screen time and 8% more likely to exercise.
• Men were 11% more likely to improve ergonomics - the only change they outpaced women on.
• Only 35% of neck pain sufferers would improve ergonomics.

Health Impact

• 65% reported that neck pain affected their daily life.
• 73% reported neck pain has not completely resolved; causing ongoing issues or is prone to reinjury.
• Top adverse effects: Irritability (24%), Sleep interference (23%), Difficulty concentrating (20%), Sleep deprivation (16%).
• Women were:

• • Twice as likely to experience severe, debilitating neck pain than men with the majority experiencing mild neck pain.
  • 75% more likely to develop chronic neck pain.
  • 43% more impacted by productivity loss.
  • 41% more likely to report mental health impacts.

Pain Management & Behaviour Change

• Top Management Actions: Over-the-counter medication (24%), Visiting a GP (23%), Reducing device use or changing device habits.
• Lifestyle Changes: Neck pain sufferers would consider improving posture (66%); exercising/stretching more (63%) and taking regular breaks from devices (50%).

Tech Use & Posture Insights

• Women are more affected by device-related neck pain across all devices than men: Smartphones: +13% (68% vs 60%), Tablets :+14% (71% vs 62%), Laptops: +14% (68% vs 59%) and Gaming consoles: +26% (83% vs 65%).
• Users who bent their neck to look down were 24% more likely to experience neck pain than those who held their device at eye level.
• Only 37.5% of users held their phone at eye level, though this had the lowest pain prevalence (64%).
• USER BREAKS & STRETCHING:

• • Smartphones: 80% of device users who rarely take breaks whilst using their device suffer neck pain compared to 60% of users who took regular breaks.
  • For women, 85% who never take breaks suffer neck pain compared to 61% of women who do take breaks.
  • Gamers: Male gamers who had regular breaks reported 33% less neck pain than those who didn’t.

Workplace & Lifestyle Trends

• Sedentary female workers experienced the highest rate of neck pain and were 22% more likely to experience neck pain than men (71.7% v 59%).
• Workers involved in repetitive movements or pulling/pushing tasks reported the highest incidence of neck pain, with 71% affected in both categories.
• Active workers reported the lowest prevalence of neck pain (61%).
• Female workers were more likely to use non-ergonomic setups and reported more neck pain.
• 71% of full-time students reported neck pain with female students 63% more likely to experience neck pain than male students (81.8% v 50%).
• Shift workers (71%) reported higher neck pain prevalence than day workers.
• Industries with the highest prevalence of neck pain include Media & Arts (90%), Healthcare (80%), Students (80%), and IT—particularly among women, where prevalence reaches 83%.
• Working Position:

• • Female workers who do a daily combination of ‘seated and standing’ work were 46% more likely to experience neck pain than their male colleagues (67.7% v 47%).
  • Women who engage in physical work were 20% more likely to experience neck pain than male coworkers (71.2% v 59.5%).

COVID-19 & Tech Neck

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, ACA chiropractors have reported a noticeable rise in Tech Neck cases across all age groups, with teens and children the most affected:

• Overall patients: 24% of chiropractors saw a significant increase in Tech Neck presentations. 28% reported a moderate increase, while 20% saw no change.
• Teens: 34% reported a significant increase in teen Tech Neck cases and 27% saw a moderate increase.
• Children: 29% reported a significant increase, with another 25% noting a moderate increase.
• Adults: Only 18% reported a significant increase in adult cases, though 33% still noted a moderate rise.

Chiropractic Healthcare

• 37% of all respondents and 44% of neck pain sufferers had consulted a chiropractor.
• 76.9% of all chiropractic patients reported some level of relief.
• Among those who saw a chiropractor specifically for neck pain:

• • 79% experienced improvement; 31% reported significant improvement; 11% said their neck pain was completely resolved; 19% noted their pain returns with triggers or without regular care; 17% reported partial resolution and 9.5% saw minimal improvement.

• 73% of neck pain sufferers had consulted a chiropractor for their condition.
• Gender outcomes: 75% of women and 77.5% of men reported relief from chiropractic healthcare.

 

 

 

ACA MEDIA SPOKESPERSONS - NATIONAL & ALL STATES & TERRITORIES

Dr Billy Chow – President, Australian Chiropractors Association – National & South Australia

ACA President, Dr Billy Chow graduated as a chiropractor from RMIT University in 1998. Since graduating he has had a varied and enriching career in private practice, on boards and in business. Dr Chow is passionate about educating and inspiring people to make better choices and to live happier and healthier lives. Dr Chow is a lecturer at the Australian Chiropractic College, Adelaide and has a healthcare business consultancy where he provides healthcare practitioners with personalised business support and mentorship.

Dr David Cahill – Vice President, National & Victoria

ACA Vice President, Dr David Cahill has been a registered, practicing chiropractor since 1991, in the Malvern East area of Melbourne since 1998. He loves helping people of all ages, from newborn babies and toddlers to those in their more senior years.  David is very active in post-graduate education, continually upskilling in many aspects of chiropractic. David’s passion is to help people have transformative experiences, enabling them to do more of what they love in their lives.

Dr Anthony Coxon – National & Victoria

Dr Anthony Coxon is a caring and respected chiropractor with 30 years’ experience. In 2009, he completed Post Doctorate studies in Chiropractic Neurorehabilitation. This additional qualification gives Anthony skills in dealing with more complex cases, particularly patients that experience balance disorders and dizziness. He is the current Vice President of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA). In addition to running a busy practice, Anthony has also appeared on countless print, radio and television media spots including ‘A Current Affair’, ‘Today Tonight’, the ‘Today Show’ and the Evening news on all commercial television stations. Anthony sees daily how chiropractic care and a healthy lifestyle can bring vitality and wellbeing to his patients.

Dr Ashley Dent – Tasmania

Dr Dent graduated from Macquarie University in Sydney in 2010 where he was awarded the Ed Devereaux Award for Services to the Student Body. He is active within the Australian Chiropractors Association at a state and national level chairing the public engagement committee and being a member of two other committees. He volunteers his time with St Vincent de Paul to bring chiropractic care to the homeless and vulnerable in Hobart. Dr Dent has a keen passion for helping people improve their long standing (chronic) back and neck pain and then progressing their spinal health through exercise and rehabilitation so that they are stronger and healthier than they’ve ever been.

Dr Kim Lie Jom – NSW

Dr Kim Lie Jom has been a registered and practicing chiropractor in NSW for the past 30 years. His commitment to the well-being of his patients extends beyond the chiropractic adjustments, as he understands the importance of holistic health for every individual. With a family of three kids of his own, he truly comprehends the value of family wellness. As a respected community leader, Dr Jom has become an integral part of the local community. His reputation extends not only for his exceptional chiropractic skills but also for his dedication to community service. He is a proud member of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA), showcasing his commitment to the highest standards of professional practice. His involvement in the ACA goes beyond membership – he currently holds several key positions within the organisation, including Public Education, Audit and Risk, the Eastern Regional Committee. He is a dedicated member of the Australian Spinal Research Foundation (ASRF), demonstrating his commitment to advancing chiropractic knowledge and contributing to research in the field. Dr Jom’s prominence in the chiropractic community is exemplified by his passion, dedication, and leadership in promoting health and wellbeing for individuals and families alike.

Dr Damian Kristof –Australian Chiropractors Association – National & Victoria

Nutritionist, Naturopath and Chiropractor, Dr Damian Kristof is a highly sought-after presenter and speaker in the Wellness industry. With over 20 years of experience, Damian’s in-depth knowledge of the body, nervous system, food functions and responses coupled with his friendly and dynamic presenting style, has him in high demand. Focusing on food as key to unlocking optimal health and wellness, Damian presents in-depth facts and concepts that have never been readily available to the public - offering all audiences from industry experts to the public highly valuable content as he engages, educates and inspires audiences across the globe.

Dr Michelle Ronan – Victoria

Michelle has been a registered chiropractor since graduating from RMIT in 2005 and has practiced in the Albert Park area since 2010. Michelle’s passion lies in helping people’s bodies perform better to allow them to get more out of life, whether that be to enhance sports performance, rehabilitation of chronic conditions, during pregnancy or to support general health and wellbeing. Michelle loves helping people of all ages and stages of life on their health journey. Michelle previously sat on the Victorian branch of the CAA (now the Australian Chiropractors Association), and is currently completing a Masters through RMIT.

Dr Adam Smith – Queensland

Dr Adam Smith (Chiropractor) has more than 20 years’ experience in family-based chiropractic care. He has experience working in many communities around Australia and internationally, including regularly serving on committees that guide health policy on a state and Australian federal level, as well as in the UK. With a special interest in family health and wellness, Dr Adam works with local community groups, charities, workplaces and schools to improve access to chiropractic care for those who want it. He believes that all Australians should have access to quality chiropractic services, so he is currently working with a group that is expanding chiropractic access in regional and rural areas of Australia across six states and territories. 

Dr Joshua Tymms – Western Australia

Dr Joshua Tymms is a registered chiropractor with nearly two decades of clinical experience, graduating from Murdoch University with a double degree in 2006. He has worked with many elite-level athletes throughout his career and remains passionate about advancing spinal health. Josh is currently completing a double Masters degree in Public Health and Business Administration to strengthen his skills in health leadership, research, and advocacy. He serves as Vice President of the Advanced Bio-Structural Correction Australasia (ABCA) Board, leading efforts to grow the research base supporting spinal health interventions. Josh has held various leadership roles within the Australian Chiropractors Association over the past decade, advocating strongly for the profession and its future. He remains committed to helping communities live healthier, more active lives through chiropractic care.

Dr Ali Young – Western Australia

Dr Ali Young is a Chiropractor with over 20 years’ experience working specifically with families, children and women. She has owned practices and worked in both Western Australia and Queensland, and loves taking care of those children that love that extra jolt of frivolity, playfulness and joy in their healthcare. She is an advocate for Working Mothers, with her book, Work. Mama. Life widely received upon its publication in 2022. She is a mother of two and now works with women in her Holistic Health Business space, combining these two great loves with her chiropractic work. She is a sought-after speaker, MC, and strategist for working mothers in the allied health space who both own businesses and want to live large whilst avoiding burnout. She has written for most major newspapers around Australia, has a podcast “Work Mama Life” with nearly 20,000 downloads, and provides support in the online space for women and mothers. She has been a chiropractic patient since she was 15 years old and thinks there is no greater gift that providing the support families need to allow their health to shine. 

 

Key Facts:

Key Messages – Spinal Health Week 2025

26 May – 1 June | Focus: Tech Neck (Tension Neck Syndrome)

Fast Facts

• 5.3M+ Australians suffer neck pain—often linked to poor device posture.
• MSDs cost Australia $55B+ annually in health, productivity, and quality of life losses.
• 95% of Australians access the internet via smartphones; 34M mobile connections.
• Teen and child Tech Neck cases have surged post-COVID.
• Only 33% of neck pain sufferers seek medical diagnosis—despite 70% saying it affects daily life.

Who's Most Affected?

• Women aged 31–40: Highest pain rate (73%)
• Women in sedentary jobs: 22% more likely to suffer neck pain
• Full-time female students: 63% more likely to report neck pain than males
• 85% of women who don’t take tech breaks suffer pain (vs 61% who do)
• Smartphone users who don’t take breaks: 80% report pain (vs 60% who do)
• Female laptop users who stretch every 2 hrs feel 24% less neck pain

Tech Neck: A Public Health Issue

• Caused by poor posture, prolonged use of phones, tablets, computers
• Common under age 40
• Leads to neck, shoulder, upper back pain, headaches, and postural change
• Long-term use can alter the cervical spine’s natural curve

Research & Trends

• 2024 Nature study links prolonged phone use to reduced neck muscle endurance and increased pain
• ACA says findings likely apply to the broader population
• 75.5% of Australians use computers daily; poor posture and setup are key MSD drivers

Prevention Tips (ACA Guidelines)

• Limit recreational screen time to ≤2 hrs/day
• Hold devices at eye level
• Take posture breaks every 10 minutes
• Stretch/move every 30 minutes during computer use
• Use ergonomic workstations
• Early intervention (exercise, manual therapy, posture correction) is critical
• Opioids are not effective for acute neck/back pain

Chiropractic Care

• 400,000+ chiropractic consults weekly across Australia
• ACA has invested $2.3M in research to support evidence-based care
• Spinal Health Week is Australia's longest-running spinal health campaign
• Free resources: www.spinalhealthweek.org.au (factsheets, checklists, posters for all ages)

About us:

The Australian Chiropractors Association & Spinal Health Week

Established in 1938, the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) is the peak body representing chiropractors. The ACA promotes the importance of maintaining spinal health to improve musculoskeletal health through non-invasive, drug-free spinal health and lifestyle advice to help Australians of all ages lead and maintain healthy lives.

The ACA is the premier association for chiropractic in Australia. With around 3,000 members, the ACA is Australia’s largest chiropractic health body and has taken a leadership role in promoting the importance of maintaining a healthy spine to improve the overall health and wellbeing of every Australian. ACA develops and promotes professional standards for chiropractors, has invested $2.2 million to advance research in musculoskeletal health, builds evidence-based practice for chiropractic healthcare and actively promotes the importance of spinal health through its annual flagship campaign, national Spinal Health Week.

Every week 400,000 chiropractic healthcare consultations are creating well-adjusted Australians. With so many Australians visiting a chiropractor every week, chiropractors play an important role in improving the spinal health of everyday Australians.

National Spinal Health Week (26 May to 1 June 2025) is the initiative of the ACA, dedicated to improving the spinal health of all Australians through increasing awareness of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) which currently costs the Australian economy over $55.1 billion annually.

Contact details:

Insight Communications: 02 9518 4744

 

Clare Collins:M: 0414 821 957

E: [email protected]

 

Alice Collins M: 0414 686 091

E: [email protected]