5 Surprising Causes of Neck Pain That You May Be Doing Right Now
Did you know that the human head weighs as much as 11 pounds? That's the equivalent of a bowling ball! And also makes for a tough job for the small bones, muscles, and ligaments in the neck. It's no wonder that over 15% of American adults suffer from some form of neck pain.
5 Unassuming Causes of Neck Pain in Your Day-to-Day Life
Living with neck pain, day in and day out can be exhausting. Not only does it limit your range of motion, but the nagging pain is distracting, it can cause headaches, irritability, and more.
The causes of neck pain can vary from one person to the next, some of which could be included in your day-to-day habits.
Let's dive into what could be causing your pain:
1. Text Neck
Along with the aging process comes the degeneration of bones and muscles which can cause neck and back pain. But due to the revelation of technology and social media, neck pain is no longer reserved for the older generation.
Text neck is a result of strain on the neck when the head is dropped down to look at your smartphone. This puts an unnatural strain on the neck muscles, causing tension and pain.
Instead of bending your neck to meet the screen, rather hold up your phone to meet your eyes.
2. Your Daily Drive to Work
It may sound depressing, but over your lifetime you spend a good chunk of time behind the steering wheel commuting to work, day in and day out.
Over time, this can lead to neck pain as a bad driving posture puts your neck out-of-joint. Most people tend to over-extend their heads forward while driving, putting strain on the neck. Also, slumped, rounded shoulders can only exacerbate this strain.
To correct this issue, make an effort to drop your shoulder-blades back and downwards. Rest your head against the headrest as much as you can while driving.
3. Awkward Sleeping Positions
Most people think that sleeping on their back is the ideal position. But this not always the case, especially if you have a poor quality mattress.
Sleeping on your stomach, however, is a major no-no for neck pain and can only make your problem worse. If you're a tummy sleeper, this tends to strain the neck in an awkward angle for hours at a time. You'll need to switch out of this habit to reduce your neck pain.
If you're a side-sleeper, make sure you have a decent quality pillow that maintains the natural curve of your neck as you rest. A pillow that's too high or too low could also be straining your neck throughout the night.
4. Your Day-to-Day Desk Posture
Even though it may seem like your workdays whizz by in a blur, you're still spending over 7 hours or more at a desk. If your desk is not ergonomically sound, it could be putting a major strain on your neck and back.
The biggest culprit of neck pain for office workers is slouching. Granted, it's difficult to maintain a perfect posture for 7 hours straight. But the key is to develop an awareness of how you're sitting at your desk.
Make sure your feet are flat on the floor when seated. Ensure your weight is evenly dispersed across your buttocks, not your tailbone. And make sure your computer monitor is at eye level so that you're not looking up or down.
5. Smoking
It's no secret that smoking is bad for your health. But did you know that this habit could be exacerbating your neck pain?
Smoking dehydrates the fluid between the discs in your neck and back, which only accelerates the degeneration of these areas. In fact, you are even more prone to issues such as herniated disks and the impairment of spine function over time.
Turn to Busch Chiropractic For Neck Pain Relief
At Busch Chiropractic we aim to help you pinpoint the exact causes of neck pain and provide relief through customized treatments. We understand how debilitating living with neck pain can be, so request an appointment with us today for neck pain relief!
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