MN Chiropractors Say Hold Head Up To Relieve Neck Pain
MN chiropractors see a lot of neck pain.
What many causes of neck pain have in common these days is not holding your head up. Imagine sitting in front of the computer, leaning forward (as I am when I write this) with my head out in front of my shoulders. My head should be back, directly over my shoulders. This way the muscles in the back of my neck don’t actually have to hold my head up. They just have to balance the weight of my head on my shoulders.
I found a good article that cites the research behind all this.
(Click here to see it). Showing that forward head carriage dramatically increases the strain on the muscles in the back of the neck. This constant strain can cause neck pain, but it also results in some compression of the neck. And over time the increase in compression of the neck accelerates degenerative arthritis (or arthritis arising from “normal” wear and tear).
So what do you do to stop carrying your head too far forward and straining your neck?
Well for one, when sitting in front of a computer or television, don’t lean forward. In other words, think about your posture. Get in a posture where your head is above your shoulders, not hanging out in front over your chest.
Second, get your neck treated by a chiropractor. The adjustments undo the compression of the joints and relieve the accumulated muscle tension. Chiropractors maintain that getting regular adjustments, even for minor neck discomfort will stave off degeneration of the joints in the neck. You want to do this so that you don’t end up with a chronically stiff and sore neck. Learn the essentials and more by clicking here.