Modern-Day Causes of Neck and Back Pain – Your Wireless Device

Did you know that neck pain, similar to back pain, is said to affect up to 80% of the population? Society’s increased usage of wireless devices – such as iPhones, iPads, and Blackberries – is not only one of today’s primary causes of neck pain but has become a leading factor in missed days at work. Holding digital gadgets to your ears while speaking creates neck stress and strain, while gazing downwards instead of raising your handheld to eye level gives rise to neck and eye strain.

Doctors confirm that holding one’s head and neck in a sideways position and maintaining a downwards gaze places excess stress upon the neck muscles, joints, tendons, and nerves. In turn, pressure is exerted on the spinal discs, leading to possible disc compression, pinched nerves, and back inflammation or irritation. In their mildest form, the painful results may include headaches caused by neck muscle tension. More severely, the symptoms may include pain radiating up and down the arm, neck, and head regions.

Expert Tips to Avoid Neck Pain You can prevent neck pain by following these expert tips promoting proper posture:

• Keep your shoulders down and back to maintain a tight core; keep your chin and chest up and out
• Take regular breaks from your wireless gizmos and gadgets
• Remember to look up frequently
• To strengthen your mid-back muscles, retract your chin; this will in turn activate the deep neck flexors, help hold your head in an upright position, and improve your posture
• Imagine that your head is a golf ball you are balancing on a tee; avoid prolonged head tilts and keep your head centered to prevent the ball from falling
• Invest in an ergonomic office chair with full back support

Ergonomic Computer Workstation Similarly, if you sit for hours at a time at your desk or in front of a computer screen, you can prevent a whole slew of related injuries by going ergonomic. Ergonomic furniture is especially designed to support the human body in all the right places in various workplace environments. By outfitting your computer workstation with an ergonomic office chair, a sit/stand desk, a gel mouse pad and keyboard, an angled reading board, task lighting, a footrest, and a lumbar pillow, you can effectively avoid upper and lower back pain, cramped muscles, stiff joints, neck and eye strain, and repetitive stress injuries on the job.
Whether you’ve already gone wireless or are still wired into 21st century technology, developing good posture habits will go a long way in helping you enjoy a productive, pain-free, modern lifestyle.