The Information Age Wrecks the Neck
The Three Main Reasons Your Neck Aches
1. Forward Head Posture
Simply put, this is the computer injury. Of course, it’s not just computers. So much of what we do is right in front of us: eating, driving, texting, and typing. This means our forearms are usually out in front of us and our shoulders are rounded forward. When this happens, the pectoral muscles tighten, the head juts out, and the back of the neck elongates. The frequency with which we sit or stand in this position begins to permanently – and painfully – affect these muscles.
2. Herniated Disc
Dr. Richard Staehler, MD, says, “A cervical herniated disc is diagnosed when the inner core of a disc in the neck herniates…and presses on an adjacent nerve root. It usually develops in the 30-to-50-year-old age group.” This can occur due to injury, or with total spontaneity. A herniated disc in the neck is most often accompanied by shooting pain down the arm or numbness and painful tingling in the hands and fingers.
3. Strains and Sprains
A sprain is an injury that occurs when a ligament over a joint is twisted while the joint is carrying some kind of weight. Strains and sprains lead to soreness, stiffness, and inflammation. These inflamed ligaments may press against nerves and vertebrae in the neck, causing misalignment and further pain.