Do you have a watch that buzzes to remind you to get up and move around? Or have you ever been watching multiple episodes of a tv show and you get a “Are you still watching?” pop-up? These types of reminders are built into things we use every day to help us remember to stretch and move our bodies. From the nine to five workday sitting at a desk to marathoning TV shows over the weekend, people spend plenty of time in seated or relaxed positions. This type of inactivity can contribute to chronic pain and discomfort. Thankfully, there is neck pain treatment available to help alleviate some of this discomfort. There are also small things you can do each day to gradually introduce more activity to your daily life.
Neck Pain and Inactivity
When you sit or lounge around for long periods of time, it can cause your muscles to become stiff and also weakened. Sitting for long periods of time can also cause poor posture, especially if you are hunched over a computer or work desk for long hours each day. Stiff, weakened muscles and poor posture due to inactivity can all lead to neck pain. The muscles and tendons in the neck help to hold up your head and support its wide range of motion. If you sit for a long time, you might notice you feel stiff and want to stretch when you get up and start to move around. If you have had your head and neck in one posture for a while, then you might notice pain and discomfort as you first start to move around again. The spine in your neck can become compressed while you sit, and a hunched posture with your head and chin thrust forward can continue contributing to your pain. You may even experience headaches, muscle tightness, and spasms along with your neck pain.
Comprehensive Care for Neck Pain and an Inactive Lifestyle
Neck pain is a common reason why people seek out treatment and care. Chiropractors, orthopedic doctors, and primary care physicians frequently talk with patients about the neck pain they are experiencing and how to resolve it. There are certain, more obvious causes of neck pain, like getting into a car accident or suffering a sports injury. But what about when you can’t really figure out what is causing your pain? A chiropractor can help identify the root cause of your neck pain, develop personalized neck pain treatment, and also talk with you about how to improve your physical activity in a way that works for you. Chiropractors use safe and effective therapeutic techniques like spinal manipulation to resolve misalignments in the spine. When you frequently exhibit poor posture, the vertebrae in your spine can become misaligned and actually contribute to your pain and discomfort. Spinal adjustments can help restore the vertebrae in your neck to their proper positioning. Therapeutic massage can also help improve circulation to stiff, sore muscles and promote more flexibility.
Your chiropractor will also want to talk to you about how to improve strength and mobility in your stiff and aching neck. They may recommend certain stretches to help gently increase the strength in your neck muscles and tendons so they can better support your head and spine. Other stretches may help increase your ability to move your head around without experiencing pain. Your chiropractor may also recommend certain exercises that will help prevent neck pain and support a healthy posture. Even the way you sit at work can help decrease your chances of experiencing neck pain. Keeping your head centered and in line with your spine helps to prevent neck pain associated with poor posture.
Preventing Neck Pain and an Inactive Lifestyle
There are additional ways to prevent neck pain and address your inactivity in small and manageable ways. Practice good posture when you are standing, sitting, and walking by making sure your ears are aligned with your shoulders and avoid hunching your back. If you know you will be sitting for a long period of time, then pencil in time to take a break and move around for a bit, and be sure to gently stretch out your neck, shoulders, and back.
No matter the cause, our chiropractors at AICA Orthopedics in Jonesboro can help provide you with neck pain treatment that works best for you!