Having good posture can make you appear more confident, but posture isn’t just about how you look. Good posture helps keep your spine in the proper alignment, while poor posture is a common source of headaches and neck pain. Slouching builds pressure in your neck muscles Craning your neck forward just one inch over the neutral position adds an extra 10 pounds. of weight on your neck.
But how do you know if your job 一and the posture you use while working 一 is contributing to your neck pain? Our team here at Precision Laser Joint and Spine Pain Center in Glen Burnie, Maryland, answers that question below.
Whether you’re on your feet throughout your shift, you drive long hours, or you work on a computer, you make conscious (or even unconscious) decisions about your posture throughout your entire work day.
Posture simply refers to the position of your body while you sit, stand, lay, or walk. Good posture is any position that keeps your bones and joints in alignment, decreases strain on your ligaments, prevents muscle fatigue, and helps reduce wear-and-tear on your joints. On the other hand, bad posture can contribute to muscle fatigue, contribute to joint pain, and throw your entire kinetic chain out of order.
You might suspect that your job is causing neck pain if you have muscle tension and:
If you answered “yes” to any of the three red flags above, the posture you use at work may be contributing to your neck pain.
When you’re at work, you can promote good posture by:
To avoid tech neck at work, use a headset (either wired or wireless) instead of cradling your phone between your shoulder and ears. Alternatively, if you work on a tablet or phone, hold the device at eye level instead of bending your neck forward all day long.
Additionally, if you carry a briefcase on your commute, consider switching to a backpack-style bag to evenly distribute the weight. Slings and a briefcase can put too much weight on one shoulder and pull on your neck.
No matter what job you hold, good posture is essential for a healthy neck. Even if you adopt these ergonomic practices, you might still struggle with residual neck pain. Dr. Dustin Hamoy can help you get the relief you need. Here at Precision Laser Joint and Spine Pain Center, we offer:
If you have underlying conditions, such as arthritis, that compound your neck issues, Dr. Hamoy can further customize your treatment plans.
Questions about neck pain? Give our Glen Burnie, Maryland, office a call at 410-324-2968. Or, you can use our online booking tool any time day or night.
