Have you ever woken up one morning and felt significant and uncomfortable neck pain? A feeling of stiffness as you stretch? If you've experienced either of these sensations you'll agree with us that neck problems are not pleasant at all and are best avoided if possible.
In optimal posture, the head is in line with the body. In this position the load on the neck is minimal. Unfortunately, the sitting position necessitates shifting the head forward, whether to see the computer or read a book, or just to watch TV. However, this displacement does not affect the intervertebral discs well at all, as a lot of load and tension falls mainly on their posterior department.
Disc problems often trigger pain and spasm, which can lead to a reduction in your ability to turn and generally move your head. To avoid this, it's a good idea to do something with prevention in mind so you don't need treatment later.
The disc itself is made of a solid shell, but its interior is made up of a jelly-like fluid called the nucleus pulposus. This jelly-like fluid shifts according to the movements of the head- when leaning forward, it shifts backward and vice versa. When the position of the head is protruded forward for a long time, the intervertebral discs located at the base of the neck are compressed for a long time, mainly in the anterior side. Now think about what happens to this fluid? It gets displaced into the posterior compartments of the disc, and when this head position is held for a prolonged period of time...say an eight hour day at the computer, it greatly increases the pressure in the posterior compartment of the intervertebral disc and can cause serious damage affecting the integrity of the disc. The damage can occur without you even feeling it. Pain in the majority of cases occurs when a nerve is pinched.
The pain can be sudden or gradually increasing and is always accompanied by varying degrees of muscle spasm that restricts your neck movements.
You must be wondering how to do that? We at Okto will point out some things for you to pay a little more attention to:
The first thing to pay more attention to is the head position. We bet you don't even realize how you sit and that's normal because each person has an individually developed position of sitting, standing, etc. However, in modern day life, working on a computer or on a smartphone, even just reading a book often results in your head shifting forward. Don't get us wrong, the position itself is not the problem, the problem comes from the time you spend in it. Your head needs to be well aligned with your body, and this head-forward shifting position should be a movement you perform from time to time. At work you can help yourself by adjusting the height of the monitor.
It's also a good idea to try to incorporate a few helpful habits into your workday. For example, if your job involves sitting in a chair for long periods of time, it's a good idea to get up at least every hour or two to get some exercise. Try it-it's invigorating, and your body will thank you.
Take a few minutes out of your day to include some exercise. The exercises don't have to be complicated or strength-building. Simply moving your joints and stretching is enough. You can also include light stretching and moving exercises during breaks at work. And of course don't forget the neck!
