If your day includes peering into a smartphone or laptop, reading a book, or sitting on the couch watching TV, you are also likely afflicted with chronic neck pain. The pain typically arises from keeping your body in an unhealthy position for too long. Experts say it’s an overuse injury. Our bodies are designed to move, yet we continually put our necks and shoulders in static positions for extended periods. The best way to overcome this problem is to ensure that regular movements are involved in your daily activities. Simple stretching or short walks may also help reduce strain and reinforce posture.
A neck pain osteopath will be able to give some personalised tips that could help resolve your concern. They can guide you with postural imbalance corrections and help you create a personalised plan to strengthen your neck and shoulder muscles. Indeed, neck pain and general deterioration can be considerably reduced by giving precedence to movement and taking advice from practitioners. In this article, we are going to briefly discuss why neck pain from sedentary lifestyles is rising nowadays.
Increased Screen Time
People become glued to screens as a result of advancements in technology. Laptops, mobiles, and tablets have formed an integral part of work and leisure. In turn, this sets people into poor posture, which includes hunching forward or bending into screens, and straining neck muscles for extended durations often results in muscle fatigue and tension. Taking regular breaks and attending to good ergonomics by adjusting the height of screens and keeping posture straight is important.
Lack of Physical Activity
Exercising or being physically less active is generally described as having very little activity that reduces muscle mass, including neck-supporting muscles. Muscles and ligaments that are not exercised regularly become less flexible and are easily injured. Weak core muscles also fail to adequately support the spine, leading to misalignment. Strengthening these muscles through regular physical activity will improve posture and greatly lower the risk of neck pain.
Poor Ergonomics
The average employee is forced to work in an environment that is generally bereft of ergonomic design. Rarely are desks, chairs, or computer systems adjusted for any prevention of improper body alignment. Without lower back support in a chair, for instance, a worker may lean forward and strain their neck. Workstations should be modified to accommodate proper posture: placing the monitor at eye level or using a chair with lumbar support can ease excessive tension from the neck.
Stress and Tension
The modern pace of life can be quite hectic and stressful. Stress might manifest in the body and emerge as tension in the neck and shoulder area. Many stressed people unconsciously tighten their neck muscles, adding to the discomfort. The inclusion of practices aimed at stress reduction, such as mindfulness, deep breathing, or regular physical activity, can ward off muscle tension. How you relax and release your tension is also important in keeping the neck healthy.
Poor Sleeping Position
Sleep is a vital component of health, yet too many people do not give proper attention to how they sleep. Poor pillows or an uncomfortable sleeping position can cause pulled muscles in the neck. A pillow being too high or even too firm might push the neck out of alignment. It’s important that a person chooses a supportive pillow and sleeps in a position that keeps the spine in alignment. Because of this, side sleepers will want to find a pillow which will fill in the gap between the head and the mattress, whereas back sleepers may want to consider using a flatter pillow to maintain proper alignment.
Sedentary Entertainment Choices
Binge-watching and gaming contribute to sedentary behaviour. Hours are spent in the same position, many of them hunched over devices. This extended time not being active results not only in neck pain but also affects overall physical health. In a way, to balance these negative effects, it is relevant for an individual to make sure there is a regular break after a long time spent in inactivity. A few stretches or a little walk will help to reduce tension and increase blood flow.
Conclusion
Neck pain is common in today’s society, which has made people sedentary. The increased screen time, lack of physical activity, poor ergonomics, stress, inadequate sleep positions, and sedentary entertainment are factors that add to the rise. Knowing these influences can better equip one to take proactive steps against neck pain. Changes at work to make the task more ergonomic, regular physical activity, the management of stress, and sleep positions are very vital as far as prevention is concerned. The inclusion of breaks in a day that has been filled with long periods of being sedentary is also highly useful for neck wellness. These actions will help reduce the pain that one currently has and will also ensure a healthier and more active life.