Sometimes neck pain seems to come on so suddenly (bad movement, posture or whiplash), but in other cases, it could start as a dull pain that just creeps up on you, and it is hard to know what caused it.
It doesn’t matter how it comes on, the fact is that when you have it, you’ll want to know the cause and how to relieve it quickly and effectively to continue with your daily activities.
Background
The human head weighs approximately 10 or 11 pounds. that’s about 8% of your total body weight. It’s only 2 or 3 pounds lighter than a tenpin bowling ball!
That’s quite an object to balance on your neck. However, when you watch a young child first learning to sit upright their heads seem so beautifully balanced. It’s an indication that the bad postural habits you adopt as you grow older can take their toll.
Unfortunately, neck pain is more common in people who spend much of their working day at a desk with a ‘bent-forward’ posture. It is very common too.
Two out of three people are thought to experience neck pain in their adult lives, and after the age of 45, about 1 in 5 people are thought to have neck pain problems at any given moment.
What are the causes of back pain?
The bones, ligaments, and muscles of your neck support your head and allow it for motion. If there is any abnormality, inflammation or injury, it can cause neck pain or stiffness.
some common causes are:
- Whiplash as a result of vehicular accidents or other types of bad and involuntary movements.
- Bad posture at work is a major factor in causing neck pain.
- Inadequate support for the neck while sleeping or sleeping with the neck at an awkward position.
- Emotional and psychological stresses.
- Non-specific neck pain. When it is hard to know the cause.
- Falling or sudden impact that pushes the head to the side, such as sports injuries.
- Turning the head side to side repeatedly during an activity, for example while swimming.
- “Text neck” poor posture while using your computer (monitor) or looking down at your mobile phone for long periods of time (as we usually do).
- Experiencing excessive stress or anxiety, which can lead to tension in the neck.
- Holding the neck in an abnormal position for a long period, such as cradling a phone between the neck and shoulder (again, poor posture).
What are the symptoms?
Neck pain can vary in intensity, for example:
- annoying discomfort
- extremely painful,
- sharp, and limiting.
Usually, the movement is more limited (stiffness) and pain is harder when you try to turn your neck to a particular side or direction. This can affect your activities on different levels (work, studies or daily routine).
How can I avoid or relieve neck pain at work?
Firstly, consider how you are set up at your office desk. There are a number of things you need to get right, but here are some of the most vital:
- Make sure your seat is adjusted so that your feet are flat on the floor and your knees are level with your hips.
- Also, make sure you have plenty of support for your lower back because poor lower back posture starts a chain reaction to the neck.
- Make sure that your mouse is kept close to you, that you are square on to the keyboard and computer terminal.
- Your screen must be at the right height for your natural eye line.
- Stand up and move at regular intervals. There is even an app for that.
- Stretch your body, especially your neck and shoulders.
- Try chair massage.
Why is it important to stretch my neck while working?
Clearly, it is going to be beneficial to stretch the neck itself. The following link illustrates three simple neck stretches
In addition to stretching the neck, you should look to open up the chest by doing pectoral muscle stretches. Also, particularly in times of stress, the trapezius muscles can get very tight. This can put a lot of strain on the neck and create pain. Massage is a great way to relieve that type of tension (try chair massage, it is done in your own office).
How can Chair massage help me to get rid of neck pain?
- It is the best option if you want a quick massage that focuses on your neck, shoulders, and back.
- A chair massage can also be a way to introduce you to massage if you’ve never had one before.
- Chair massage also helps to relieve stress and promote relaxation and could be done at your own office. This type of massage uses light to medium pressure.
What to expect during a chair massage?
During the massage, you’ll remain fully clothed and sit in a specially designed chair. You’ll straddle the chair so that your chest pushes into the back of the chair, allowing the massage therapist to have access to your back.
Undoubtedly, there is a minimum disruption to the working day.
It is a treatment that emphasises on your back, neck, shoulders, arms, and scalp. It is both therapeutic and highly relaxing.
It doesn’t take more than 30 minutes.
A final word
Remember to check in with your emotions. Ironically, your neck pain could be due to psychological, not physiological factors. We recommend researching basic meditation or mindfulness as a possible remedy.
We hope this information is useful for you. If you have any questions about our treatments, please contact us. You can find us 3 mins away from Angel station in Islington. If you like this blog, please share!
We are always happy to help.
References
https://www.healthline.com/health/neck-pain#treatment
https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/treatment-stiff-neck