Is Poor Posture Causing You Neck and Back Pain?
January 22, 2010 by Back & Neck Pain Resources
Filed under Back Pain Conditions
Neck and Back pain are usually associated with people who do athletic activities or those who are working in physically strenuous jobs. However, people should be aware that even if they do not participate in athletic activities, or even do the tiniest bit of exercise or training, they can still be quite susceptible to neck and back pain.
The fact is, even the way you sit or stand can already have an effect on your body. An improper posture while sitting, lying down, walking or even just standing up, can already lead to additional strain on your neck and back muscles, as well as the nerves. This excess and unnecessary strain can build up over time and give you the aches that you feel on your back and neck.
That is why it is important for you to know if you have a poor posture, and then correct it as soon as possible. Here are some things that you should know about your body’s proper posture:
Leaning your head forward:
Forward head posture is when your head is drifting and leaning forward. People would usually resort to this posture while they are working with a computer, reading a book, driving, or watching television or movies. When people are in this kind of position, they would usually strain the muscles at the back of their necks.
This is why people should eliminate this position as much as possible. They should start reading with their books propped up against a frame, take periodic breaks while working on the computer, or even while they are driving.
Slouching:
While it may seem more comfortable to slouch, it would actually lead to more pain if you continue doing it over time. This is because slouching, whether while standing or sitting down on a chair, actually causes unnecessary strain on the back nerves and muscles, thus causing back pain.
If you’re prone to slouching while at your computer, you should consider getting an ergonomic support, such as the Back Joy Core. The Back Joy Core will correct your posture while you sit, and it “floats” your spine and pelvis for ultimate comfort.
To correct this, you should always try to keep a straight back while you are standing. When sitting down, you should always try to sit up straight as well, and try to lean your back parallel with the chair.
Carrying items:
One of the things that affect our posture is the way we carry items. Heavy backpacks, or even briefcases and purses can force us to adjust our posture to lean to one side. This would again strain the nerves in our backs and necks which would ultimately cause pain.
That is why it is important to avoid having to carry a heavy luggage as well as a bag that is simply worn over one shoulder. This is because it can place too much weight on one side of the body. As much as possible, you should try to find a bag that would help in distributing the weight evenly between your back and shoulders, such as the Healthy Back Bag.
If you find yourself doing the examples mentioned above, then you should try to follow the tips about correcting them. However, you should remember that just as bad posture is caused by repetitive bad positions, correcting them can also take some time. You should work through them, so that your neck and back pain would eventually be lessened.
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Thanks a lot for the article, It had a great amount of guidance on it, I learned a heap