Understand your Neck Pain

Top Tips for Healthy Posture to Avoid Neck Pain

Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles and tendency to spend time in front of a computer screen, TV screen, or looking down at a smartphone or tablet PC is wreaking havoc with our spinal health. According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the UK, a million working days were lost last year alone due to back pain and/or neck pain and this sets to get even worse unless we sit up and pay attention. 

Preventing neck pain could be as simple as reassessing how we use our body throughout the day, and how we sleep at night. One of the most common causes of neck pain is something called anterior head carriage: where the head is tilted too far forward and extra pressure is put on the structures of the cervical spine. In this position the cervical spinal muscles that run down the back of the neck and shoulders are in a constant state of contraction in order to support the head. This is what leads to sore neck muscles, tight shoulders, neck pain and fatigue.

Screen-Time and Neck Pain

The main cause of this abnormal and damaging posture is sitting staring at a computer screen. We tend to sit in such a way that the natural curve of the lower back is flattened, leading to the shoulders dropping and the head moving forward. This may be compounded by unaddressed vision issues causing us to peer closely at the screen. 

To correct this we should consider sitting as an activity in itself, not a passive state of being. If you imagine a string attached to the top of your head pulling you upwards then this can help keep your pelvis angled forward, the lumbar curve maintained, the shoulders back and the head nicely in alignment to keep the natural curve of the cervical spine. This helps to spread the load on the spine and reduce the likelihood of muscle strain, neck pain, back pain and spinal degeneration.

Sitting as an Activity

Viewing sitting as an active thing can also help us to maintain good muscular health which makes us more resilient to acute trauma. Of course, sitting should not be considered exercise as such and we need to take regular breaks from sitting in order to reset the body and use other muscles. Even a one or two minute walk through the office every half hour can help us to avoid settling into an unhelpful posture. Any damage that is being done to the spine is limited by frequent reassessment of how we’re using the body.

Regular breaks from sitting also give us an opportunity to get a drink of water, stay hydrated, and to breathe freely. We often unconsciously hold our breath when talking on the phone, texting, or looking at something on screen and so getting up and being mindful of how the body is moving can help us to breathe normally and re-oxygenate the muscles. Drinking water also helps to keep the body hydrated and reduce the risk of dry and stressed joint tissue tearing under pressure.

In addition, sitting up and taking notice of posture can help you to acknowledge when your clothing choices, desk layout, or computer set up is affecting how you use your body. Tight clothing or restrictive clothing can prevent us moving naturally, while having files on a low shelf or a keyboard or screen that is too far away from us can lead us to tilt forwards and strain the spine. 

In short, to help prevent neck pain and back pain it is important to:

• Exercise regularly
• Stay hydrated
• Avoid wearing tight or restrictive clothing that disrupts normal posture
• Take regular breaks from staring at the screen
• Be mindful of your body and how you are using it every day.

Read More

If You Keep Texting, Your Head Will Fall Off

If You Keep Texting, Your Head Will Fall Off

'Because the head and neck move forwards, it will eventually lead to a reversal of the natural curve of the neck.  

'Postural changes will then occur, which can lead to serious problems in this area.' 

Tim Hutchful, of the British Chiropractic Association, said doctors were seeing an increased number of cases where overusing mobiles was contributing to neck and shoulder pain.

'Our muscles are designed to flex and retract,' he told Mail Online.

'If you stay in a fixed posture for too long like peering over a phone you are putting those muscles under stress.'

Mr Hutchful said leaning the head forwards was like holding a 10 to 12lb weight away from the body.

'Muscles will go into spasm if they have to hold such a position,' he said.

He added that tall young women with slender necks were anatomically most at risk from neck problems, as were sedentary people not used to using different muscles.

With the advancement of technology, many lifestyle problem are arising ."Text neck" is one of them. "Text Neck" is the general and epidemic problem of this technology era. Text neck is the problem of looking down at your phone for long period of time completely mindless of your poor posture presentation.

However, we cannot realize that simply looking down at our phones leads to headache, cervical spondylitis, respiration inefficiencies and even jaw pain. Cervical spondylosis is a disorder in which there is abnormal wear tear on the cartilage and bones of the neck (cervical vertebrae). It is a common cause of chronic neck pain . Main body part that is affected due to text neck is spine. Infact, approximately 50% of the population suffers from cervical spondylitis or headache . 70% of patient who present with headache also demonstrate cervical dysfunction. Various spondylitis symptoms appear due to wrong posture like pain in shoulder, neck and pain along the arm.

With the advancement of technology, everything is becoming easy. We are globally connected via small device that fit in our pockets. Apps replaces personal assistant and reach  and we walk around with heap of songs in our pocket. And yet as  phones get smarter, our posture gets weaker. The biological sustainability of human being is declining at the speed of tech savvy era.

Posture correction of the cervical spine is indicated as treatment method of text neck, cervical spondylitis and headache. The correction of head posture can transform the quality of healthy life of patients who present with Text Neck. This is a matter of high concern  that requires complex attention.

Tags:

neck pain , cervical spondylosis , cervical spondylitis , neck pain home remedies , shoulder pain medicine , neck pain, cervical spondylosis, cervical spondylitis, neck pain home remedies, shoulder pain medicine, shoulder pain, lower back pain, spinal stenosis, sciatica, chiropractor, pinched nerve, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, sciatic nerve, low back pain, sciatica pain relief, herniated disc, upper back pain, cervical spine, stiff neck, lumbar spine, neck pain causes, headache, lumbar spondylosis, right shoulder pain, sciatica symptoms, back pain causes, sciatic nerve pain, leg pain, pinched nerve in neck, pain in the neck, lower left back pain, pain in neck, back problems, back spasms, bulging disc, sciatica treatment, arm pain, disc herniation, shoulder blade pain, pain in shoulder, chiropractic, lower back pain exercises, shoulder joint pain, severe neck pain, pain in lower back, lumbar stenosis, exercises for lower back pain, sciatic pain, middle back pain, trapped nerve, spinal stenosis treatment, severe back pain, lumbar spinal stenosis, left shoulder pain, laminectomy, cervical spinal stenosis, shoulder pain causes, sciatic nerve pain relief, nerve pain, causes of lower back pain, slipped disc, spinal stenosis surgery, neck problems, neck and back pain, back and neck pain, cervical spondylosis treatment, exercise for back pain, back neck pain, sciatica exercises, neck pain symptoms, backache, spinal decompression, sciatica relief, pinched nerve in lower back, causes of neck pain, pain in left shoulder, pain in back of neck, spondylosis treatment, lumbar pain, back pain remedies, back of neck pain, chronic lower back pain, low back pain exercises, what causes neck pain, pain in back, back pain exercises, herniated disk, cervical arthritis, neck injury, chronic shoulder pain, shoulder problems, back surgery, causes of shoulder pain, neck arthritis, cervical spondylosis symptoms, neck ache, lower back, cervical spondylotic myelopathy, lumbar disc herniation, myofascial pain, pain in shoulder blade, upper back pain causes, pain in upper back, pinched nerve lower back, spondylosis cervical, cervical stenosis, cervical radiculopathy, low back pain treatment, low back pain causes, upper back pain relief, cervical spondylosis with myelopathy, thoracic back pain, chest and back pain, sciatic nerve relief, cervical disc herniation, arthritis in the neck, ruptured disc, what causes shoulder pain, shoulder pain exercises, herniated disc treatment, treatment for back pain, chiropractic adjustment, shoulder pain symptoms, spine pain, as back pain, stiff neck pain, lower right back pain, bad back pain, spondylotic changes, back pain lower, back and leg pain, treatment for sciatica, extreme lower back pain, neck nerve pain, pinched nerve neck, herniated disc symptoms, treatment for lower back pain, sciatic nerve treatment, cervical spondylosis exercises, pain in right shoulder, back pain solutions, disk herniation, lower leg pain, upper neck pain, sciatica pain treatment, pain in shoulder and arm, pain in the back of the neck, exercises for low back pain, cervical osteoarthritis, lumbar spine pain, chronic neck and shoulder pain, lumbar back pain, sore shoulder, neck pain exercises, cervical myelopathy, neck and head pain, cervical neck pain, lower back pain right side, cervical disc disease, muscle pain in neck, head pain, herniated disc surgery, remedies for back pain, lower neck pain, lower back muscle pain, pain in shoulder joint, treatment for spinal stenosis, constant lower back pain, neck stiffness, muscle pain in shoulder, spinal decompression therapy, lower back problems, pinched nerves, sore lower back, head and neck pain, pinched nerve treatment, lower back strain, sore neck muscles, neck pain diagnosis, chronic low back pain, pain in the back, pain in the lower back, stiff neck remedies, exercises for neck pain, stiff neck causes, painful shoulder, shoulder pain cancer, neck and arm pain, lumbar laminectomy, painful neck, acute back pain, pain in left shoulder blade, pain in right shoulder blade, sharp lower back pain, back pain diagnosis, sudden lower back pain, acupuncture for back pain, relieve lower back pain, left shoulder blade pain, leg pain causes, cervical spondylosis surgery, bad neck pain, neck pain and stiffness, pain in both shoulders, back injury, lower back and leg pain, decompression therapy, disc bulge, neck back pain, relieve neck pain, relieve back pain, extreme back pain, pain in neck and back, sudden back pain, herniated cervical disc, home remedies for neck pain, lumbar spondylosis treatment, right shoulder blade pain, chiropractic care, cervical spondylosis without myelopathy, arthritis of the neck, sciatic nerve exercises, degenerative spondylolisthesis, pinched nerve in neck treatment, neck exercises for neck pain, arm and shoulder pain, sciatica back pain, constant back pain, bulging disk, top of shoulder pain, spondylosis of the neck, back and neck pain relief, symptoms of back pain, extreme shoulder pain, extreme neck pain, pinched sciatic nerve, arthritis neck, pinched nerve back, arthritis in neck, sciatica cure, back pain management, acute lower back pain, pinched nerve in neck symptoms, back of the neck pain, bad lower back pain, lower back pain left side, pinched nerve in back, back relief

 

Read More

How good posture contributes to good health

How good posture contributes to good health

Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. Your posture directly affects your health.

When posture is bad, pressure on your spine is increased. This can lead to tension, soreness, headaches, back pain and fatigue.

Postural imbalance also compresses your internal organs, reducing their efficiency and normal function. This may cause respiratory problems, chest tightness, high blood pressure or poor digestion.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of poor posture. It takes a lot of energy to hold the body in an odd position, and, in turn, alters our breathing which can drop by 30 per cent.

Good posture 

Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity.

A good postural position permits you to breathe better, and as a result reduces fatigue and minimises other effects associated with bad posture.

Proper posture keeps muscles, ligaments, bones and internal organs in their natural position. This reduces wear and tear of joints, and relieves stress, improving health and enhancing your appearance.

Taking a stand

Good posture can also increase self-confidence, with one study revealing that people adopting good posture not only display greater confidence but have a stronger belief in their own abilities than those with poor posture.

Correcting bad posture does take discipline, but there’s no doubt the benefits are well worth the effort.

The first step is understanding the bad posture habits our lifestyle may expose us to and then taking steps to address them.

So, posture is very important as it can have long term impacts on your health. If you would like to drop in for a free posture check we would be happy to look you over.

Otherwise, the Chiropractic Association has produced a great website called www.whatsyourposture.com.au about posture which includes a quick online assessment tool. It has some great information about mums, kids and their backpacks, office workers and people who love the outdoors.

tAGS:

neck pain , cervical spondylosis , cervical spondylitis , neck pain home remedies , shoulder pain medicine , neck pain, cervical spondylosis, cervical spondylitis, neck pain home remedies, shoulder pain medicine, shoulder pain, lower back pain, spinal stenosis, sciatica, chiropractor, pinched nerve, spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease, sciatic nerve, low back pain, sciatica pain relief, herniated disc, upper back pain, cervical spine, stiff neck, lumbar spine, neck pain causes, headache, lumbar spondylosis, right shoulder pain, sciatica symptoms, back pain causes, sciatic nerve pain, leg pain, pinched nerve in neck, pain in the neck, lower left back pain, pain in neck, back problems, back spasms, bulging disc, sciatica treatment, arm pain, disc herniation, shoulder blade pain, pain in shoulder, chiropractic, lower back pain exercises, shoulder joint pain, severe neck pain, pain in lower back, lumbar stenosis, exercises for lower back pain, sciatic pain, middle back pain, trapped nerve, spinal stenosis treatment, severe back pain, lumbar spinal stenosis, left shoulder pain, laminectomy, cervical spinal stenosis, shoulder pain causes, sciatic nerve pain relief, nerve pain, causes of lower back pain, slipped disc, spinal stenosis surgery, neck problems, neck and back pain, back and neck pain, cervical spondylosis treatment, exercise for back pain, back neck pain, sciatica exercises, neck pain symptoms, backache, spinal decompression, sciatica relief, pinched nerve in lower back, causes of neck pain, pain in left shoulder, pain in back of neck, spondylosis treatment, lumbar pain, back pain remedies, back of neck pain, chronic lower back pain, low back pain exercises, what causes neck pain, pain in back, back pain exercises, herniated disk, cervical arthritis, neck injury, chronic shoulder pain, shoulder problems, back surgery, causes of shoulder pain, neck arthritis, cervical spondylosis symptoms, neck ache, lower back, cervical spondylotic myelopathy, lumbar disc herniation, myofascial pain, pain in shoulder blade, upper back pain causes, pain in upper back, pinched nerve lower back, spondylosis cervical, cervical stenosis, cervical radiculopathy, low back pain treatment, low back pain causes, upper back pain relief, cervical spondylosis with myelopathy, thoracic back pain, chest and back pain, sciatic nerve relief, cervical disc herniation, arthritis in the neck, ruptured disc, what causes shoulder pain, shoulder pain exercises, herniated disc treatment, treatment for back pain, chiropractic adjustment, shoulder pain symptoms, spine pain, as back pain, stiff neck pain, lower right back pain, bad back pain, spondylotic changes, back pain lower, back and leg pain, treatment for sciatica, extreme lower back pain, neck nerve pain, pinched nerve neck, herniated disc symptoms, treatment for lower back pain, sciatic nerve treatment, cervical spondylosis exercises, pain in right shoulder, back pain solutions, disk herniation, lower leg pain, upper neck pain, sciatica pain treatment, pain in shoulder and arm, pain in the back of the neck, exercises for low back pain, cervical osteoarthritis, lumbar spine pain, chronic neck and shoulder pain, lumbar back pain, sore shoulder, neck pain exercises, cervical myelopathy, neck and head pain, cervical neck pain, lower back pain right side, cervical disc disease, muscle pain in neck, head pain, herniated disc surgery, remedies for back pain, lower neck pain, lower back muscle pain, pain in shoulder joint, treatment for spinal stenosis, constant lower back pain, neck stiffness, muscle pain in shoulder, spinal decompression therapy, lower back problems, pinched nerves, sore lower back, head and neck pain, pinched nerve treatment, lower back strain, sore neck muscles, neck pain diagnosis, chronic low back pain, pain in the back, pain in the lower back, stiff neck remedies, exercises for neck pain, stiff neck causes, painful shoulder, shoulder pain cancer, neck and arm pain, lumbar laminectomy, painful neck, acute back pain, pain in left shoulder blade, pain in right shoulder blade, sharp lower back pain, back pain diagnosis, sudden lower back pain, acupuncture for back pain, relieve lower back pain, left shoulder blade pain, leg pain causes, cervical spondylosis surgery, bad neck pain, neck pain and stiffness, pain in both shoulders, back injury, lower back and leg pain, decompression therapy, disc bulge, neck back pain, relieve neck pain, relieve back pain, extreme back pain, pain in neck and back, sudden back pain, herniated cervical disc, home remedies for neck pain, lumbar spondylosis treatment, right shoulder blade pain, chiropractic care, cervical spondylosis without myelopathy, arthritis of the neck, sciatic nerve exercises, degenerative spondylolisthesis, pinched nerve in neck treatment, neck exercises for neck pain, arm and shoulder pain, sciatica back pain, constant back pain, bulging disk, top of shoulder pain, spondylosis of the neck, back and neck pain relief, symptoms of back pain, extreme shoulder pain, extreme neck pain, pinched sciatic nerve, arthritis neck, pinched nerve back, arthritis in neck, sciatica cure, back pain management, acute lower back pain, pinched nerve in neck symptoms, back of the neck pain, bad lower back pain, lower back pain left side, pinched nerve in back, back relief

 

Read More