Chronic Neck and Back Pain

Maybe you’ve felt that twinge or pull on the side of your neck that prevents you from turning your head fully left or right, or perhaps you’ve felt the sharp stab in your back that leaves you confused since you were only sitting down. These episodes of pain often go away on their own after time, but breaking a few bad habits can help lessen the frequency of neck and back pain.

Spend less time at your computer. We all get sucked in by what we do at the computer, only to realize when we finally stand up that weave been straining our necks and backs just to hunch over the screen. While raising your screen to eye level can help, the best measure is simply reducing the about of time spent at your computer to give your neck and back a break. This idea translates to our cell phones, too. We hold our phones in our hands and pull our necks down to the screen, which causes serious strain.

Empty out heavy backpacks and purses. Chances are, we don’t need everything we lug around with us. Yet carrying around extra weight pulls on our shoulders and puts unnecessary stress on our necks and backs

Don’t hunch while you drive. Few people pay attention to their posture when they’re behind the wheel, mainly because they’re totally focused on the road (which is a good thing!). The next time you’re in your car, take note of your posture before you pull out of the parking lot. Chances are your shoulders will be rotated inward as you lean into the wheel. Adjust your seat so that it supports your back and neck, especially if you have a long commute.

High heels and over stuffed wallets. Both of these contribute to back pain. High heels can throw off your balance, causing the muscles in your back to overcompensate and be over stressed. Bulky wallets put pressure on lower back muscles that can lead to serious knots and contortion. Choose a lower heel and a slimmer wallet- your back will thank you for it.

For more information on treating your neck pain call 516-798-3789.