Neck
and Shoulder Pain: The Secret Causes You May Not Be Aware Of!
Neck and shoulder pain may be the most common
ailment faced by most people these days. That having been said, it is often the
most mysterious, too. Pinpointing the exact cause for shoulder or neck problems
is particularly tricky, and the underlying cause of the pain may be due to many
differing factors. In this post, we take a look at not only what causes
shoulder and neck pain, but also how we can prevent and heal that pain, right now.
The 21st century goes hand-in-hand
with the astronomical rise of technology. Nowadays, tablets, cellphones, TV’s,
computers, and even smart-watches dominate our daily lives. We are accompanied
by our cellphone wherever we go, our emails are sure to follow, and we – more
often than not – end the day lounging in front of the TV. Here’s the problem,
though: all this tech is actually having a damaging effect on your shoulder and
neck health. Why? Well, looking down at our phones, arching our necks at the TV
screen, trying desperately to avoid the glare on our tablet screens – these all
add up. Our muscles are stretched and moved in peculiar ways, all of which take
their toll on the joints. We ache and experience pain a lot more frequently as
we increasingly handle our technological devices incorrectly.
In addition to the rise of technology, we have
also lost valuable time connecting with our bodies. Most people don’t really
stretch, nor do they do much activity. We have become a sedentary nation, for
the most part, and our necks and shoulders tell that story. As a people, we
just aren’t moving our muscles and joints enough, and the aches and pains you
may be experiencing in your neck and shoulders may well be the result of a lack
of activity.
It is also important to mention diet: what are
you eating on a daily basis? Diets filled with fatty foods, or an overload of
simple carbohydrates, or even diets that just aren’t balanced and don’t provide
the nutrients your body needs, will directly affect your health. Your neck and
shoulders will ache if you aren’t feeding yourself the right anti-inflammatory
foods, for example.
It is clear, then, that while we’re living in a
time defined by a technological rat-race, we need to take a step back and make
some serious changes. Your neck and shoulder health may well be directly
related to the everyday habits you’ve forged together with technology, diet,
and lifestyle. Luckily, we have a couple of ways you can start making changes,
right now. Take a look:
1. Watch your PC and phone
posture. What is your posture like when you use your
computer? Do you have a desktop or laptop? These are very serious
considerations when it comes to neck and/or shoulder pain. If you’re using a
desktop, make sure your screen is in alignment with your eyes, thereby avoiding
forward head movements and incorrect posture which could lead to pain. If, on
the other hand, you’re using a laptop, avoid lying down when you’re typing or
watching Netflix. This particular posture forces your head forward,
thereby placing immense pressure on your neck muscles as they are pushed into
an unnatural position. Rather, use a desk if you can. And try to limit the time
you sit in front of your PC to chunks of around 20 minutes. In addition, make
sure that your phone posture is monitored. Never stoop, and always try to keep
your phone at eye level with your neck and spine aligned. Always stretch after
using technologies like these for long durations of time.
2. Sleeping habits. The way you sleep often directly affects the muscles in your
shoulders and neck. Incorrect sleeping habits are one of the biggest culprits
in shoulder and neck pain. Sleeping with too many pillows places stress on your
neck muscles and actually puts your back and neck out of alignment, causing
pain. Try sleeping with a pillow that evenly aligns your spine with your neck.
It may take some getting used to, but it’s worth it. Also, sleeping on your
side with a pillow between your knees is incredibly effective for relieving
neck and shoulder pain. Why? Because stress is no longer placed on those two
areas, and the weight of the body is evenly distributed along the spine and
legs. Try doing this and we’re sure you’ll see fantastic changes.
3. Even distribution of
weight. Without knowing it, many of us carry our
handbags on one side of our body. What about shopping bags? Maybe even our
trusty laptop bag. When we carry weight on one side of our bodies the other
overcompensates, thereby leading to pain in our shoulders and necks. It’s very
important that weight is distributed evenly. Try carry shopping bags equally on
both sides of the body or switching the side you carry your bags on. This is an
absolutely vital step in your journey towards a pain-free life.
4. Diet matters. Be aware of the types of food you’re eating – whether it be fast
food, fatty foods, sugary foods, or even salty foods – cutting down on the
types of low-nutrient meals you consume will greatly benefit in relieving pain.
Try introducing more seeds, berries, and other anti-inflammatory foods into
your diet. Dark, leafy greens, broccoli, eggplant, and sweet potatoes are
fantastic additions to your meals. Give it a go – the results will surprise
you.
5. Exercise. Moving your body is one of the best ways of getting rid of your neck
and shoulder pain. Stretch, move, exercise, and incorporate as much activity as
you can – the key to health is to move!
So, there you have it: some tips to get rid of
your back and shoulder pain, today. The truth is, chronic neck and shoulder
pain can be debilitating – we understand that it might be getting you down. We’d
love to help. Physical therapy is the most effective way of tackling your
neck and shoulder pain head-on. We offer a unique opportunity for you to
come in, talk to one of our professional physical therapists, create a plan,
and be given options to fix your neck and shoulder pain…all for free! Just give
us a call at (703) 650-8824 or fill out a form here and we will set up a time for you
to come down. Don’t let neck and shoulder pain ruin one more day of your life –
try our tips today!
