Better Posture Will Eliminate Neck Pain
Many of us do not consider our posture during the course of a day, week or even at all. This lack of self-awareness can end in in neck pain or shoulder pain or headaches, that can interfere with our activities and even affect our health.
For many American?s hours are spent glued to our computers, either at work or at home, resulting in the head being held in an abnormal forward position. Body neutral position provides for correct support, which is with the head located directly atop your neck between your shoulders. When your head is in this place position, your neck and shoulder muscles experience the least stress and strain as your strong vertebrae support your head. If you constantly hold your head outside of this neutral position often headaches, neck pain, and shoulder pain result.
fortunately, you do not have to continue suffering, as there are solutions to the difficulty problem.
To tackle this issue, understanding, education, and evaluation are key. If you spot that your posture might be the culprit of some of your problems a chiropractor may be able to help you. The chiropractor can promptly spot some of your problems and may even save you time and money.
A rapid quick test is available for your to perform a self check. Stand with your back to the wall, approximately six inches away and step back towards the wall until you touch it, paying close attention to which part touches the wall first. If your have perfect, your head, shoulders buttocks and, heels reach the wall simultaneously.
If your check showed that your shoulders did not touch first, some releasing of your chest or pectoral muscles might help this rounded and slouched posture. Again, this can be done almost anywhere in your home. Stand in your chosen doorway, stretch your right arm out so that the doorframe is touching your elbow joint, slowly step forward until you feel a stretch across your chest, hold for a few seconds. Repeat with your other arm. This stretch will open your chest and should result in less slouching and slumping of your shoulders.
Or if your head did not reach the wall first, you can address the muscles in the front portion of your neck and strengthen the muscles in the back of your neck with the chin tuck. While sitting or standing straight up, use your neck to pull your chin straight back. Hold for 5-15 seconds and return to the starting position.
The above stretch and strengthening exercise may be all you need to address you alignment issues and can decrease you pain.
Step number two involves evaluation and treatment. Step number one was the assessment by the chiropractor, the second is performing the exercises that he or she suggests. Generally, exercises will be sufficient to realign your posture. However, longer term postural problems may require a more intensive treatment plan. This treatment plan may involve the inclusion of some well documented techniques that help with scar tissue removal from within the muscles. These techniques include Active Release and Gaston scar removal techniques.
Passing the self test and performing the exercises and stretches may still not be enough to make your pain go away as there may be underlying spinal alignment maladjustments that necessitate a comprehensive assessment from a chiropractor. The assessment can identify any other problems and may involve further treatments to deal with the abnormal spinal issues.
Being mindful of our head and shoulder positions can awaken us to our posture issues, and by seeking a chiropractic evaluation you can be on your way to a pain free future.
Dr. Steve Van Laecken has eliminated neck pain from numerous patients. To remove that stubborn pain in your neck forever, call SpinalWorks at 602-298-1600 for an initial examination by Dr. Steve. For a limited time, Dr. Steve is willing to provide these appointments for 75% off to anyone with a print-out of this article.
