Chiropractic Care for Your Tech Lifestyle
Are you struggling with neck or back pain?
Do you spend hours at your computer each day? Are you constantly on your phone or tablet? If so, you may be experiencing pain in your neck or back. This is a common problem for people who lead a tech-based lifestyle. Fortunately, our Jacksonville chiropractor can help! We offer a variety of treatments to suit your needs, including chiropractic care, massage therapy, and many other pain management treatments.
If you are struggling with neck or back pain, don't hesitate to contact our Jacksonville chiropractor today. We can help you find relief and get back to living your life pain-free. Call us today to schedule a consultation.
Let's look at a few common habits that you may be able to relate to…
Tech Neck
Tech neck (also referred to as "text neck") can cause pain in your upper back and shoulders. Tech neck is a condition that results from looking down at your phone, or other tech devices too often. This can lead to pain in your neck, shoulders, and even your fingers. Texting puts strain on the cervical spine, which can lead to headaches, muscle tension, and pinched nerves.
To avoid tech neck, it's important to maintain good posture. Hold your phone at eye level instead of looking down at it. Take breaks often to move your neck and shoulders around. And, whenever possible, use hands-free devices to avoid holding your head in an awkward position for long periods of time.
Instead of maintaining good posture by holding mobile devices straight out in front of their faces, the majority of people hold their devices close to their bodies, lowering their heads to view what's on the screen. Because the average head weighs 10 pounds, continually dropping it forward hunches your shoulders and strains your spine. Technologically induced neck discomfort is sometimes known as "tech neck." Tech neck is becoming increasingly common among kids and young adults, who typically have few spinal issues.
What is the best way to avoid this forward-headed posture? To develop body awareness, pay attention to your posture. Roll your shoulders back and down. Is your head jutting out from your chest? If that's the case, slide it back so that your ears are over your shoulders. Check yourself frequently to prevent bad habits from reentering your life. If you have a smartphone, tech neck may be prevented by using an application that warns you if your chin slants at an angle that puts you at risk.
Too Much Sitting
We spend hours sitting at our desks, in front of the TV, and commuting in our cars. This can lead to a condition called "sitting disease." Sitting disease is a term used to describe the health problems that can develop from sitting for long periods of time. These problems include obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer.
All of this may be avoided by simply changing your posture at least once an hour. Changing your position every hour or so helps to prevent tech neck and other problems caused by sitting for lengthy periods of time. Aside from a hunched back, you might also be gaining weight, tightening lower body muscles, and even shaving years off your life while seated excessively. According to the World Health Organization, insufficient physical activity kills around 3.2 million people each year. This is a major risk factor for mortality because it causes three million deaths yearly
But most people cannot simply quit their routine jobs. Instead, set a timer to alert you to take a two-minute stroll every hour. Throughout the course of your day, keep an eye on your posture. If feasible, get a standup desk or one that adjusts between sitting and standing so you can reduce the amount of time you sit.
Dry Eyes (too much screen time)
Dry eyes are a common problem that can be caused by staring at screens for long periods of time. This is because looking at screens decreases blink rate, which leads to dryness and irritation. Dry eyes can cause redness, itching, burning, and even blurred vision.
The average person blinks their eyes approximately 20 times per minute. However, sitting at a computer drastically lowers your blink rate to once or twice each minute. What's the best solution? Take more rests by blinking deliberately now and then, or use eye drops that contain only lubricant.
Call Your Chiropractor
Everyone's health is affected by technology. If you're experiencing back or neck discomfort, headaches, or eye strain, contact your chiropractor. A chiropractor can also help you with ergonomic workstations and exercises to decrease your pain and avoid future issues.
Our Jacksonville chiropractors offer a variety of treatments to suit your needs. We specialize in chiropractic care, massage therapy, and many other pain management treatments. Contact us today to schedule an appointment! We look forward to helping you achieve optimal health! For more information on which pain management method is right for you at our Jacksonville, Florida location— call (904) 500-6362 or request a free consultation.
