Updated: 2/27/2020
If you suffer from chronic neck pain do you know the reason why? Millions of Americans suffer from neck pain for all kinds of reasons from whiplash to spending too many hours hunched over a digital device.
You might be surprised at the way you can find neck pain relief. From gentle exercises to massage therapy and chiropractic care, there are a lot of options. However, to find pain relief and manage it well, you’ll want to get to the source of the pain.
Do you know why you have frequent neck pain?
One of the most common reasons you may suffer with neck pain is because you spend the majority of your hours hunched over a computer. If that’s the case, you may need a better ergonomic setup.
Another technological pain in the neck is “text neck”, looking down at your phone for long periods. If so, trying lifting the phone (and your head) so the device is eye level.
Is your head causing your neck pain? And no, I don’t mean you “made it up.” Merely, your head is heavy. It weighs between 10-12 pounds so if you’re bending it forward for hours at a time, that’s a lot of stress on both the tiny bones in your neck and the surrounding soft tissue. No wonder your neck aches!
3 Common Reasons for Neck Pain
- Computer/devices (being bent over all the time stresses your neck and upper body as you can see above.)
- Sleeping on a pillow that doesn’t support your neck. It can require a few different tries to find one that works for you but many people like the memory foam type pillows.
- Poor posture contributes too. By now you may be seeing a pattern in the hunched shoulders with the head jutting forward problem. If you can train yourself to stand up straight, you’ll improve your posture and even your breathing since oxygen will be able to circulate easier in your body.
Let’s face it, a lot of our habits can contribute to on-going neck pain and sometimes it only takes a few simple tweaks to find relief.
For example, by adjusting your computer monitor to eye level and improving your posture, you’ll reduce some of the strain on your neck. Ice and health therapy can help too. Use ice for the first 24-48 hours followed by heat therapy. A heating pad or one of those microwaveable rice-filled pillows will work.
If you find yourself seeking neck pain relief often, then come in for a chiropractic evaluation. Chiropractic care can relieve neck pain and we can help you assess the source. If you’re in Doylestown, Pa, McQuaite Chiropractic can help. We offer consultations and take most insurance.
