The Bio Specs on Tech Neck
In chiropractic offices around the globe, it feels a lot like chiropractors are seeing patients for neck pain just as much as for back pain. Just about every last one of us is addicted to our phones which - while amazing pieces of technology - weren't designed with good posture in mind. This has led to a surge in cases of what's called tech neck (and sometimes "text neck").
Perhaps you suffer from tech neck? Good news is that chiropractors can treat it and help you prevent it from recurring.
What the Heck is Tech Neck?
Tech neck is the development of neck pain due to looking down at phones, computers, tablets, etc. Neck pain is sometimes accompanied by shoulder pain, headaches, tingling or numbness in your arms and hands, and even eye strain/vision blurriness.
Why Tech Neck Symptoms Are a Big Deal
Oh, how it'd be nice to presume we’ll be fine or just deal with looking like the hunchback of Notre Dame when we're old, but the reality is these symptoms can have lifelong consequences.
Neck Pain - According to your neck muscles, your head is heavy, and then gets heavier just by tilting your head forward or looking down at your phone all day. When upright, your head weighs 10-12lbs. When you're hunched over your phone, you put up to 60lbs of pressure on your neck muscles. That's a lot of weight to hold up for hours on end. Neck pain is a precursor to muscle strength imbalance and exhaustion. The neck muscles in back are forced to get stronger while the ones in front get shorter and weaker, making it challenging to rebalance them later on.
Shoulder Pain - If your head is tilted forward, then chances are your shoulders are hunched and rolled forward, which may lead to shoulder pain and discomfort. This can also put pressure on your spine and lead to inflammation, both of which can lead to more pain. This altered posture of the upper back (upper thoracic) and neck (cervical) can negatively alter the normal spinal curves over time.
Headaches - Muscle strain in your neck and upper back can lead to muscle tension headaches. Muscles get overworked, tight and inflamed as well, which also leads to headaches. Chronic headaches aren't fun for anyone, and aren't good for your health.
Tingling/Numbness - Whenever you experience tingling or numbness, that almost always means you're dealing with irritation and inflammation impacting nerves and blood supply. Depending on how you hold your phone and type, it can also cause muscle weakness.
How Chiropractors Treat Tech Neck
You don't have to give up on using technology to get rid of tech neck. Chiropractors can treat your neck and upper back to help realign your spine and ease the strain on your spinal tissues. Targeted spinal adjustments will vary from person to person to match your unique needs. They help you get out of pain, can reduce headache incidences, restore range of motions and alleviate muscle tension.
Chiropractors can also provide ergonomic guidance to help correct your posture and prevent you from practicing ongoing postural errors. Your neck can be rehabilitated and good posture can become an unconscious habit.
Author: ChiroPlanet.com
Source: Surg Technol Int. 2014 Nov;25:277-9
Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2022
Listening to Your Body – When do You Need a Break?
There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. You might see exercise as a great addition to your lifestyle, but you need breaks from your training, too. Noam Tamir of TS Fitness New York City explains that your body goes through trauma when you exercise. So how do you know when to take a break?
- You're constantly sore: delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS, is normal. However, you shouldn't feel this all the time. Allow 24-48 hours in between each workout session.
- You're always tired: moodiness and tiredness are signs of working out too much. This is because cortisol is produced by exercise. Too much of this can take a toll on your mental health.
- You have an abnormal heart rate: check your heart rate regularly. If your resting heart rate is higher than average, then it's not ready for your next workout session yet.
- You're always stiff: if you continue to be stiff long after a workout, your body is going to start changing the way it moves naturally. This can become permanent and potentially cause injury.
- You've got dark yellow pee: looking at the color of your pee is the easiest way to figure out if you're dehydrated or not. The darker your pee, the more water you need to drink.
Growing Attuned to Your Body for Optimum Health
Because you actually create micro-tears in your muscles when you exercise, they need time to repair, which will help them grow stronger. The more you exercise, the more you strain your body. If you're not giving your body the breaks it needs, you could be doing more harm than good. Take a day of rest between workouts and you’ll be stronger, fitter, and happier than ever!
Author: ChiroPlanet.com
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2015/12/15...
Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2018
Regular Exercise Is Great for Mental Health – But Watch Out for Too Much
According to a study of 1.2 million adults across the U.S., people who engage in regular exercise report an overall healthier mental state than non-active or sedentary people. However, more exercise is not necessarily better for mental health. According to this research, daily exercisers actually report less mental wellbeing. This means, just like anything else, moderation is key to reap the health benefits of physical activity. And, according to the study, all kinds of exercise counts, including housework, mowing the lawn, caring for children, fishing, gym sessions, running, walking, and more. Researchers have continually proven that exercise can have major positive health effects, including lowered risks for stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. However, the link between good mental health and exercise is less certain. While the researchers in this particular study were able to positively link exercise to healthy mindsets, they weren’t able to demonstrate cause and effect. The study asked adults across the U.S. to give a ballpark estimate of how often during the previous month they would say their mental health was "not good" due to emotional issues, including those related to stress and depression. In addition, these adults reported their exercise habits during the previous month, including how long each session lasted. One major takeaway from the study: People who exercised regularly reported experiencing less mental health issues. In total, the exercisers reported 43% fewer days with mental health issues than non-exercisers.
Author: ChiroPlanet.com
Source: The Lancet Psychiatry. Volume 5, Issue 9, P692-693, September 01, 2018.
Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2018