If you associate stooped posture with aging, you’re correct; it is a common cause of a hunched position that can trigger neck pain. However, not all postural issues are part of aging. And what does posture have to do with neck pain anyway?
Understanding the link between the two can help manage and prevent discomfort, promoting overall well-being. This fits perfectly with our mission at Serenity Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Carrollton, Texas.
Our team, led by Pamela V. Ford, DC, is dedicated to delivering chiropractic care, physical therapy services, and ergonomic assessments that help improve your overall health and wellness.
Posture is a critical component of spinal health, so let’s discuss how poor habits like hunching over your desk can quickly become a pain in your neck.
Posture refers to body positioning as you stand, walk, or sit. While the spine gets much of the attention, posture also influences the alignment of your head, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles.
Practicing good posture places the least strain on supporting muscles and ligaments when sitting still, during movement, or with weight-bearing activities. This decreases abnormal wear on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joint surfaces, reducing your risk of painful muscle strain, tendon tears, or early degenerative joint changes.
Common postural problems include:
This is one of the most common issues, especially among people who spend a lot of time on computers or mobile devices. It involves the head jutting forward from its natural alignment, increasing strain on the neck.
This modern term describes the neck pain and damage sustained from looking down at phones, tablets, or other screen devices too frequently, for too long, without practicing healthy posture.
Hunching the shoulders forward can lead to tightness in the chest and upper back muscles, contributing to neck pain.
Poor posture affects your neck in many ways, including:
Poor posture often leads to muscle strain and imbalance. When you slouch or hunch over, specific neck, shoulders, and back muscles are overworked while others become weak. This imbalance can cause tightness and discomfort, leading to chronic neck pain.
The cervical spine (neck) supports the head's weight, around 10-12 pounds. Poor posture, like forward head posture, increases the load on the cervical spine.
For every inch your head moves forward, the weight your neck supports doubles, increasing stress on cervical discs, joints, and vertebrae.
Prolonged poor posture can also lead to nerve compression. For example, forward head posture can cause compression of the nerves that exit the spine in the neck, potentially leading to pain, numbness, or tingling in the neck, shoulders, and arms.
Dr. Ford offers solutions to improve posture and alleviate neck pain, including:
Developing and maintaining a healthy posture can feel awkward initially. However, with treatment and training, your body can quickly adapt, moving into appropriate alignment smoothly and effortlessly.
Take a step toward wellness today. Schedule a visit with Dr. Ford by calling the office or requesting an appointment online.
