Neck Pain and Poor Posture
Neck pain and posture are linked. Neck pain often increases or decreases as your body position changes, and when this is the case posture habits as well as overly tight and overly weak muscles are probably impacting the problem.
“A chain in no stronger than its weakest link.” Dr. Steven Weiniger
Frequently suffering with neck or shoulder pain can force you to change your habits to avoid pain. For some this means sitting or moving in an unbalanced way to alleviate where it hurts, and for some others limiting activity altogether is the strategy.
Neck pain is often caused by mechanical disorders associated with gradual changes due to aging, or strain of the neck or arms. Pain can be localized to the cervical spine or may radiate down an arm or cause shoulder pain. D. Borenstein, MD & American College of Rheumatology
But what are the posture related causes for neck pain?
- Working on a laptop all day with few breaks to stretch
- Always carrying a purse, laptop or child on the same side of your body
- Using a pillow that doesn’t provide proper support and head positioning
- Using mobile devices like a cell phone, tablet or iPad with forward head posture
- Repetitive motions like computer, repair or factory work that strains the neck and shoulders
A seven-year study found neck manipulation to be a better choice for managing most common neck pain than many current practices. Also included in the short-list of options for relief were massage, exercise, education and neck mobilization. The Bone and Joint Decade 2000-2010 Task Force on Neck Pain and Its Associated Disorders, Spine
Getting rid of neck pain?
- Do a Posture Check
- Do a Posture Exercise Program
- Fix your Posture Environment to maintain good posture habits
7 Steps to StrongPosture®
Dr. Steven Weiniger
