Neck pain is ingrained
We already know that the office is one of the most brutal settings for the spine. But now we are able to take the office, and the bad habits that come with it, on the go! You already spend enough time sitting at your desk with your head craned forward, creating excess downward pressure and problems for your spine. If you then repeat this poor habit while using your cell phone, or watching television at night, your spine can barely get a rest! And forward head posture can be felt most accutely in the neck, as the soft tissues are strained in order to support the weight of the head in its new, forward position.
An action plan for daily neck pain
The first thing to do is to be aware and limit our exposure to screens- they simply encourage us, even against our will and better intentions, to move our heads forward. But you can’t limit the time you need to spend in front of a screen at work, which means that daily neck pain is still very much a reality. So here’s what you can do to be more proactive about preventing neck stiffness:
- Move it, a lot: stretch your neck at least once an hour. Even a simple side to side movement breaks the monotony and accumulation of tension in the soft tissues.
- Stretch at the end of the day: perform seated head tucks and neck releases to improve circulation and relieve tension from the tissues at the end of the day.
- Rest your posture frequently: whenever you feel your head creeping forward, reset it to a balanced position atop the spine. It may feel awkward at first, but your neck muscles will thank you later!
- Drink water to keep your vertebrae hydrated
Chiropractic for neck pain
The essence of what we are saying is to stop avoiding your pain! Instead, confront it head on. And if the stiffness still remains, give our office in Ramsey a call to schedule an appointment. We are specialists in resolving chronic neck pain that is due to postural deficiency. We can restore alignment to the vertebrae of the neck, improve local circulation to help healing, and work on strengthening the muscles that support good posture of the head and neck.
