Text neck is proposed to be one of the causes of neck pain and is regarded as a global epidemic. The term text neck emerged in 2008, and quickly spread through the media worldwide Yet, there is a lack of consensus concerning the definitions of text neck which challenges researchers and clinicians alike. A comprehensive synthesis of how text neck is currently defined may contribute to a better understanding of the term by researchers and clinicians.

To investigate how text neck is defined in the peer-reviewed academic literature.

We conducted a scoping review to identify all articles using the terms “text neck” or “tech neck”. Embase, Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and Web of Science were searched from inception to 30th April 2022. This scoping review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMAScR) guidelines No limitation was applied for language or study design. Data extraction included study characteristics and the primary outcome relating to text neck definitions.

41 articles were included. Text neck definitions varied across studies. The most frequent components of definitions were grouped into five basis for definition: Posture (n=38; 92.7%), with qualifying adjectives meaning incorrect posture (n=23; 56.1%) and posture without a qualifying adjective (n=15; 36.6%); Overuse (n=26; 63.4%); Mechanical stress or tensions (n=17; 41.4%); Musculoskeletal symptoms (n=15; 36.6%) and; Tissue damage (n=7; 17.1%).

There is substantial variability and lack of clarity in how text neck is defined in the peer-reviewed literature. The literature is characterized by definitions ranging from tissue damage and mechanical stress/tension to musculoskeletal symptoms, overuse and posture. Posture is the defining characteristic of text neck in academic literature and current definitions often mention inadequate posture and overuse. Clinicians and researchers should be aware of the lack of consensus on what constitutes text neck. Since there is neither consensus on the definition nor scientific evidence to support any of the proposed definitions, the term text neck seems to have no clinical value at the present moment.

From a clinical perspective, text neck seems to be of no scientific value since there is no association between the flexed posture adopted during texting on smartphones and neck pain. Text neck is not an accepted diagnosis and does not seem to be a risk factor for neck pain. pain. From a research perspective, the definition of text neck as a habit of texting on the smartphone in a flexed neck position, regardless of whether the person has neck pain, may be of scientific value for new studies.