Hunching over or leaning forward to see a phone, tablet, or computer screen has become such a common occurrence in our everyday lives, especially as more people transition to working from home. While there are certainly benefits to working from home, many folks have left behind ergonomic desks chairs and office routines that prompted you to move around every once in a while. Working from home has become a leading cause of back pain for people searching for “chiropractor near me” and hoping for relief. The good news is that chiropractic can help reduce and even resolve your back pain all together through natural, non-invasive treatments as well as lifestyle adjustments.
What Is Tech Neck?
Tech neck is the new phrase to describe the hunched-over posture many people use when staring at a screen all day. Whether sitting or standing, many people naturally hunch their shoulders forward and lean their heads down in order to see their screens better. This particular type of poor posture can lead to aches and pains that continue from day to day until something changes. As we regularly hunch over and strain to see our devices, the vertebrae in your spine as well as your muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues become strained or even weakened in the process. Tech neck can cause misalignments in the spine, where a vertebra in your neck or upper back slips out of place and possibly even puts pressure on nearby muscles or nerves.
Did you know that your neck experiences 10 extra pounds of pressure for every inch you lean forward? That means hunching over your keyboard or phone can cause neck pain and lead to some serious discomfort. This type of poor posture can really negatively affect your neck, causing pain and tenderness in your neck. You may even experience stiff muscles and difficulty turning your head from side to side without pain or discomfort. Tech neck can also cause headaches, as well as tingling and numbness from your neck to your shoulders and upper back.
How Does Chiropractic Help?
Chiropractors focus their study and treatment on the entire musculoskeletal system and how your spine makes an impact on your whole body. When your spine is out of alignment, even in what seems like the smallest bit, it can cause pain and discomfort that can last for a long time. Chiropractic care is a natural, non-invasive treatment option that does not rely on any medications or surgical procedures to provide you with lasting relief from pain. Pain medications tend to mask the symptoms in the short term but don’t address the issue in the long-term, while surgery often comes with significant risks and very long recovery periods.
Instead, chiropractic care offers a safe, gentle approach to treating a wide variety of back and neck pain by working with your body and prompting natural healing responses. Tech neck and other back pain caused by working from home stem from poor posture and spinal health, so a chiropractor in Lithia Springs is a great choice for getting help. Your chiropractor will perform an assessment of your neck and back and identify any spinal misalignments that may be contributing to your pain. Chiropractic adjustments are safe, gentle, and allow your chiropractor to manually correct your posture to ensure your spine is properly aligned. Chiropractic adjustments and other therapeutic techniques can also relieve stiffness and tension in your muscles that support your neck and back.
Developing Better Work-From-Home Habits
Talk to your chiropractor about your current work-from-home setup and discuss possible ways to help provide more support for your spine. One of the best things you can do for your body is to remember to get up and walk around every hour or so. This is more natural when you are in the office and may visit a coworker or take a flight of stairs to a conference room. When you’re at home it seems easier to stay in one spot where you are comfortable, but that isn’t always what’s best for your back and neck. Avoid sitting in very soft spaces like your bed or couch without properly supporting your back and neck. You may also want to use a higher table or stack some books so your computer or tablet is at eye level so you don’t have to hunch over.
Visit a chiropractor near you in Lithia Springs to experience how chiropractic care can help relieve your back and neck pain after working from home all day. AICA Orthopedics has a team of chiropractors, orthopedists, physical therapists, and other doctors who all work together to provide you with the comprehensive care you deserve.