Stand Up Straight - How Your Posture Affects Back Pain and Neck Pain
Did you ever question why you can sit down all day long and don't do any hard work and still your back or neck hurts? It is amazing that humans don't sustain even more back pain and neck pain, given the structure of our bodies and the physical demands. In my California chiropractic practice, I frequently treat office workers who experience chronic and severe back and neck pain tied to easy-to-fix ergonomic issues in their workspace.
Anyone can experience back or neck pain at any time. I treat individuals regularly who experienced back and neck injuries from improper lifting, machinery usage, sports, falls, and auto accidents. These injuries would be classified by me as expected or typical types of injuries. Most people would be astonished to know that the most frequently seen injury in a chiropractic office does not result from a single, dramatic incident; it is instead the cumulative effects of long-term postural stress.
Spinal health can be jeopardized slowly and insidiously due to postural stress. Regardless of whether you sit or stand, postural trauma can ensue. Postural stress is felt whenever the natural curve of the spine is altered or if the spine moves past its natural balance point.
As you sit at a computer, hunched over the keyboard or peering at the screen, your neck experiences postural stress. Your body is reversed from the typical curve of your neck, as you extend your neck to the front of your body and forces your head forward of the normal balance.
If our posture puts pressure on our spines, the security that controls our structures when postural limitations are concerned is gone. Stress from the way we hold ourselves (either sitting or standing) opens our ligaments and muscles up to long periods of being stretched (perhaps incorrectly) which leads to muscle fatigue, irritation, inflammation, back and neck pain, and even arthritis over the long run.
A combination of therapies may be required to effectively treat back pain and neck pain from postural stress. When chiropractic treatment is combined with proper stretching and nutritional supplementation, full and smooth joint motion can replace the pain and stiffness. If you have endured pain for a long time or if your symptoms are particularly acute, the road to recovery will not be short or easy. Don’t expect a quick fix.
Along with chiropractic treatment, it is important to address origins of postural stress. Have your workstation analyzed to highlight any ergonomic issues that could cause postural stress. An ice pack placed on the affected area for twenty minutes can relieve neck pain and back pain.
Talking to your chiropractor is the first step in starting your treatment. Postural stress issues and the related neck and back pain that result from it are best dealt with by chiropractors, who are well trained in that area. At our chiropractic clinic in San Diego, we treat patients with a holistic approach using chiropractic care and enhanced with a regimen of stretching and exercise. Encouragement of the proper diet is made to facilitate the process of healing. You need to be aware of the importance of eliminating the source of the postural stress in addition to seeking treatment, regardless of which approach you take to relieve the pain of postural stress.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
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