Doctor issues warning over ‘nerd neck’ and how you can fix it

No, we're not joking when we tell you that 'nerd neck' is a real thing. And once you get over the term you may quickly notice it is something you suffer from without realising.

In fact, the official term for the condition is a lot more normal that an attack on all geeks, dubbed forward head posture or FHP.

But it is something that video gamers in particular suffer from to the point where one scientific paper on the issue was published last year entitled 'Addressing the physical health risks related to excessive video gaming'.

Nerd neck explained

The above paper, which has been peer-reviewed was published on the News Medical website back in September 2024.

Addressing the issue of nerd neck or 'gamer neck', it is something that occurs in many people when playing video games.

How, you might be asking? Well, as the paper says, when you lean your neck forward for long periods of time 'it can cause it to become unnaturally positioned'.

"Gamer neck can also cause neck and back pain, alongside neck stiffness, due to the abnormal posture, and these issues may linger even after switching off your game," explains Emre Aksu, a spokesperson for online gaming site 1337 Games.

But it's also not restricted to gaming. It can be caused by driving hunched over, carrying a heavy bag on your back, sleeping with too many pillows, and slouching in general, as per Heathline.

Nerd neck symptoms

Firstly, it's not something to be ashamed of.

As Aksu says, it is 'sometimes difficult to control your posture while engrossed in a game'. But he adds: "Being mindful of how you’re sitting may prevent issues."

One way Aksu says you can stop nerd neck before it begins is by playing in a 'specialised ergonomic gaming chair with a straight, high back will encourage correct posture and allow you to sit comfortably'.

You might want to do this if that includes you, with symptoms of nerd neck including chronic pain, tight neck muscles, headaches, back pain and in more serious cases, slipped discs.

How to fix nerd neck

Over on TikTok, Dr Hwu (@hpforgamers) has posted about the issue to try and help his followers if they suffer from it.

The first exercise to fix nerd neck is called a 'towel chin tuck', where you put a towel behind your head and tuck your chin down to realign your back and spine.

The second is called 'towel elevations', where you hold a towel above your head in both hands. Lifting over your head, you need to keep your proper posture during this.

They're not hard to do and can be easily included in what you're doing, whether that be gaming or regularly driving long distances.