Kansas City Chiropractor Helps Patients with Neck Pain from Long Hours on the Computer

Are you reading this at your computer right now and thinking to yourself "Hmm...I have neck pain and I'm on my computer...what's the point?"

The point is long frequent periods of time in front of the computer can cause neck and back pain, as well as eye strain!

How can this happen?

-Poor ergonomic design of your workspace (meaning your computer, mouse, chair, keyboard are not in the optimum position for your body)

-Your monitor is set too high, too low, or off to one side or the other, causing your neck muscles to work overtime to hold your head in place

-If you are on the computer AND squeezing the telephone between your neck and shoulders, you are getting a double whammy of stress on the neck.  You should really get a headset or use speakerphone if at all possible.  The increased stress on your neck and upper back can cause the vertebrae (bones) in your neck to misalign, which can also create muscle spasms and pain.  You may even notice your neck turns better to one side than the other.

-Staying in one position for long periods of time without much body movement.  This causes your body to stiffen in some places, and overwork other muscles.  This is the perfect setup for neck and back pain, as well as weight gain if you are not exercising on a regular basis.

What can you do?

-GET ADJUSTED by a Chiropractor:  Chiropractors are trained to gently detect misalignments aka subluxations in the spine and joints, and then realign those joints, which takes pressure off of nerves and relaxes the muscles.

-Have your workspace evaluated by an ergnomics specialist, or discuss it with your Chiropractor.  During my extensive education in Chiropractic school, we were trained to help patients adjust their workstation to minimize the negative impact on their bodies.

-Eat protein every 2 to 3 hours.  You may combine this with vegetables or sprouted wheat bread to create a healthy snack or meal.  Eating small meals more frequently keeps your blood sugar steady so that your body can handle long days of work and other stressors.

-Drink a quart of water for every 50 pounds of body weight PER DAY.  This is the optimal amount of water for someone to drink and still stay well-hydrated.  If you drink coffee, tea, or soda, add the same amount of water to your total for the day.  A great way to measure your water intake is to use a polycarbonate or metal water bottle that is 1 quart or 1 liter. 

-Exercise 3 to 5 times a week.  At least 30 minutes of physical activity that gets your blood pumping and your body sweating has all kinds of benefits including stress reduction and more physical stamina.

Find a Chiropractor that is well trained in coaching their patients in all aspects of their health, including diet, water intake, and exercise, and you will have a partner that will be there to bring your body to it's maximum potential!

Drinking my water as we speak!

Dr. Kristine Baker