You use your neck a lot every day — probably more than you realize. Considering your neck needs to pivot, nod, and swivel in multiple directions — all while supporting an 11-pound head — it’s no wonder about 80% of people experience neck pain at some point during their lifetimes.
Though lots of activities can contribute to a sore neck, there’s one cause that’s become a lot more common since the pandemic: working from home. It’s true, working from the comfort of your home definitely comes with some awesome perks — but it’s also true that it can take a surprising toll on your body.
At Easy Reach Chiropractic, Barbara Adonis, DC, and Heather Previll, PT, DPT, help women and men relieve neck pain and prevent new symptoms from occurring using hands-on techniques, medical treatments, and lifestyle changes focused on improving ergonomics and biomechanics.
Neck pain can have lots of causes, including medical problems like arthritis and disc disease. But for many people working from home, the underlying cause is much more treatable: neck strain, typically from poor posture.
As the uppermost part of your spine, your neck is composed of a series of bones or vertebrae that are surrounded by supportive muscles. Nerves pass through the vertebrae, exiting at joints and traveling to your upper back, shoulders, and arms.
Neck strain happens when unusual stress is placed on the neck joints and muscles. Home work environments are much more likely to cause muscle and joint strain simply because many home work spaces aren’t designed for work activities.
For instance, many people rely on makeshift office spaces, transforming kitchen tables or even coffee tables into work surfaces. Chairs, sofas, and even beds are frequently used in place of a high-quality, supportive office chair. The result: You wind up binding your neck, tilting your head, or simply not providing your spine with the support it needs to maintain proper alignment.
Fortunately, this type of neck pain can be remedied with some TLC, a change in your workspace and work habits, and prompt medical attention from our team. The important thing is to seek care early, before a little discomfort turns into a more serious problem, like nerve compression or a “slipped” disc.
Chiropractic treatment is ideally suited for treating neck pain and preventing symptoms from getting worse. Through hands-on techniques like spinal readjustment and massage therapy, our team improves circulation and nerve activity while reducing muscle tension and inflammation.
We also offer cutting-edge therapies, including acoustic shockwave therapy and laser therapy designed to target underlying causes of neck pain and stimulate natural healing. Plus, we can help you optimize your posture, your habits, and your workspace with guidance tailored to your specific needs. Try these simple tips to help you get started.
It might be called a laptop, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to use your lap as a desk. To work from home, you need a serious, professional workspace, and that begins with a desk designed for the type of work you do.
Look for a desk that keeps your laptop or monitor at an ideal height, so your shoulders and arms are supported and aligned. Skip the comfy (and unsupportive) recliner, and invest in a chair with a headrest and good lower back support, too.
If you use your phone a lot for work, it’s all too easy to find yourself bending your neck to cradle the phone while you use your computer. Invest in a pair of good-quality earbuds or a headset instead.
Working from home might be more relaxing than being in a traditional office, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need regular breaks from the daily grind. Make time to get up, move, and stretch every half hour or so to prevent muscle tension and improve circulation. Add in a few neck stretches to relieve tension specifically in your shoulder, neck, and upper back.
Without proper care, neck pain can take a toll on your physical health and your emotional wellness, causing long-term symptoms that can interfere with regular activities, too — including sleep. The good news: Neck pain typically responds well to treatment, especially when provided as early as possible.
To learn more about the pain management options that can help you get rid of your nagging neck pain, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Easy Reach Chiropractic in Lake Worth and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, today.
