5 Ways Neck Pain Hits and Chiropractic May Help
By Sandy Schroeder
As summer surges on, and we all begin to think of fall, bouts of neck pain often turns up too. Too little sleep, too much technology, or just a sudden twist may be the culprit. If you, or your family members, are having neck pain, chiropractic may be able to help.
Stop by The Joint Chiropractic in your community, to discuss your pain and determine the causes.
Neck Pain Triggers
There are five common causes of neck pain that may be triggering your problem.
Posture Problems – At home or at work, we all bend over screens, and often slouch in our chairs. Try this test – In a seated position, round your shoulders and back in a typical poor posture. Can you feel it in your neck too? Start fixing that slouch and practicing good posture to give your neck, back and whole body a break.
Monitor Angles – As you cram in hours at work, and keep going at home, the position of your monitor could be creating nonstop neck pain. If your screen forces you to look too far up or down, your neck will take the hit. Line up your seated position with your monitor, so that the top of the screen is at eye level, and your feet are flat on the floor. Keep all other screens at eye level too.
Sleep Stressors – On warm nights if you are tossing or turning, sleeping on your side, stomach or back with a pillow that does not completely support your neck, you are inviting neck pain. Whenever you are sleeping in uncomfortable positions, your neck will probably let you know. Invest in a new pillow and evaluate your mattress too.
Technology Marathons – Many people spend the greater part of the day typing, texting and tapping on smartphones, tablets and other keyboards to stay in touch. At the same time, your neck is absorbing the overload as you bend over screens or sit in fixed positions for long sessions. The work gets done, the connections are made, and your neck takes the hit.
Sharp Movements – We all love being out on the weekends, hiking, climbing, running or biking. But sometimes, new challenges lead to neck twists, turns, stretching or stress. The muscles in the neck are strong, but they can be strained, sprained or torn, just like any other muscle.
Neck pain can also come from fibromyalgia, cervical arthritis, spinal arthritis, infection of the spine, and cancer.
When neck pain strikes, it’s tempting to gulp a pain pill, take a hot shower, and just keep going. But the better answer may be to see your local chiropractor to pin down the problem, and start working on the solutions.
The Joint Chiropractic makes it easy to get started. Private, affordable healthcare plans eliminate the hassle of insurance, and flexible weekend and evening hours make visits convenient. No appointments are needed.
