Let’s take a fun quiz that might help you live with less neck pain…
(And if you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions… read on!)
When you sleep at night, do you find yourself sleeping on your stomach? Or with more than one pillow in a twisted position?
When you’re relaxing at home, do you find yourself looking up at the TV screen because it’s hung up high on the wall?
When you’re out and about do you carry your bag on one shoulder? Or hold your heavy purse or briefcase in one hand?
Chances are you’ve answered ‘yes’ to at least one of these questions.
Over the years, almost every patient that walks into our clinic who has been suffering from neck pain has been doing one of the things listed above.
So it’s no surprise that as physical therapists, one of the most common injuries that we see is ‘neck pain’.
And without even realizing it, the things that we do everyone can cause it.
Let’s take a look at three of the most common everyday mistakes that we’ve found our patients doing that cause their neck pain…
watch this video to learn how to ease a headache with a foam roller. Click here
Watching TV
Watching TV is a habit- not saying it’s good or bad! But, the real issue with watching TV is HOW you watch it.
Are you watching it with the TV hung above the fireplace high on the wall, kicked back with your feet up (and neck!), while binging your favorite shows?
Even though you might think it’s comfortable and relaxing, the truth is, there could be a problem waiting for you… If you’re watching TV like this, it can be strenuous for your neck and head.
A lot of people tend to make the same mistake. They don’t realize that the position they have their neck in can actually be affecting their body and even their health.
How to fix it? There’s a reason why TV stands are almost always the same height. And any decent stand will allow your TV to sit at eye level while you sit on your couch watching it.
Watch the TV so that your head isn’t looking upwards, or reaching out, and this should help you avoid headaches, eye trouble, and muscle tension.
Your Bag
Carrying your bag on one shoulder, or holding a heavy briefcase in one hand is something most of us are guilty of doing. But did you know that’s also one of the main causes of aches and pains in your neck and shoulders?
You see, since the weight of your bag is on one shoulder, or on one side of the body, it can throw your muscles and posture off-balance. That’s one reason why you see people with one shoulder higher than the other!
Another thing… The way we carry our bags can cause our muscles to become stiff too.
The way to solve this problem is to reduce the weight of your bag and to periodically switch up the side you carry it on.
Switching your bag over to the opposite side will help to balance out the way your body carries the weight, relieving any tension build-up in your muscles and solving any posture problems too. Switch it up every 10 minutes, or every time you walk past a few streets.
How We Sleep
Another daily habit that brings about neck pain is the way we sleep.
If you sleep with your head propped up on more than one pillow, your neck and back aren’t going to be properly aligned- meaning more pressure on your muscles and spine.
And if you find yourself sleeping on your stomach, your head is most likely going to be turned on its side- meaning your body is in a twisted position all night for hours.
Now can you see why you might wake up with a sore neck?
Although your neck is built to rotate from side to side, it’s not designed to stay in a position for hours on end. So if you choose to sleep on your side, use a pillow that doesn’t prop your head too high up.
But instead allows it to line up with your shoulder. And if you choose to sleep on your back, sleep with one thin pillow so that your neck and spine are nicely straight.
What questions do you have? Call or text at 623.486.3333.
For more advice on how to ease neck tension, click below next to check out our free report:
Dr, Nick’s greatest passion is seeing his patients recover from injury and return to their activities that bring them joy.
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