Our posture when sitting at a desk and/or using mobile technology for day to day communications, often has room for improvement. It’s so easy for us to slip into a poor posture when we’re mindlessly reading emails or sending texts. The problem is, that this poor posture is leading to more complaints of neck discomfort.
Neck pain is no longer an ‘adult issue. A lot of younger people are now complaining of neck discomfort, headaches, trouble standing up and other painful issues in these upper body areas. This is more often than not, due to the increased use of phones and technology.
Forward Head Posture
People of all ages need to be more aware of their postures at work and at home. Think about this: for every inch that your head is tilted forward, there is twice the amount of pressure being placed through your spine. Forward head posture places unnecessary strain on your neck muscles and can cause disc protrusions and pinched nerves.
The Trickle Down Effect
The above conditions, result in increased pain in the back of your neck, headaches and even nerve symptoms such as numbness and tingling radiating down your arms.
You can see that when neck discomfort isn’t handled right away, there is a trickle down effect.
Adjustments to make in your daily life to prevent neck problems:
- Break up the time you sit in one position for a prolonged period of time, especially when your spine isn’t in proper alignment.
- If you are on the computer for work for multiple hours a day, get up at least every 20-30 minutes and go for a short walk. This goes for anyone who spends a lot of time on their electronic devices at work or home.
- If you sit at a desk, make sure your back is supported, keep your computer monitor at eye level and place your feet flat on the ground.
Other ways to prevent neck pain:
- Stretching out the muscles in your chest.
- Perform shoulder blade squeezes throughout the day.
- Be aware of your head position when you sit.
- Get moving! The longer you sit, the more tired your muscles get and the more your posture will slouch.
By: Devin Wurman, DPT
Physical therapy is a very effective treatment method to relieve neck pain FOR GOOD. Our expert physical therapists will teach you proper stretches, strengthening exercises, and ways to set up your work stations, to help reduce symptoms and prevent serious injuries. If you are experiencing neck pain, call our office TODAY at 703-450-4300 to start living pain free again!
CLICK HERE for more on how physical therapy can help you.
