If you hope for ways to manage your ongoing neck pain, have a closer look at your daily habits. The way you sleep, work, or carry yourself may actually be the cause. You should likely begin by consulting with a medical specialist in pain management. Next up, consider the following aspects that may be a contributing factor and correct the mistakes you may make.
1. Poor Bedtime Habits
Achieving quality sleep means more than counting the hours. Have you ever considered that the way you sleep may cause you neck pain? For instance, if you sleep in an awkward position, you may place strain on your neck or force your spine out of alignment. As a result, you may experience pain in your neck.
As an experiment, you might want to change your sleeping position. If you are a stomach sleeper, consider switching positions by sleeping on your side or on your back. Doing so may alleviate the pressure on your spine that could have caused your neck pain.
In addition to changing your sleep position, be sure to change out your pillow if it is flat and worn. Consider using a memory foam pillow that actually conforms to the shape of your head and neck. Also, avoid sleeping with two pillows, as the additional height may place strain on your neck.
As another consideration, you might want to buy a new mattress if your existing one does not offer adequate support or if it sags. A mattress that throws your spine out of alignment could very well give you a pain in the neck – literally.
2. Poor Work Habits
Perhaps you have heard of the importance of proper ergonomics in the workplace. Not practicing good work habits can be a major cause of chronic pain. Whether you do computer work at an office desk or a manual labor job, your work habits can influence how you feel at the end of the day.
Is your computer monitor situated too high, causing you to stare into it by tilting your head upwards? Be sure to keep the monitor viewing at eye level to avoid straining your neck. Adjust your workstation if need be to ensure you are comfortable and don't cause strain.
Also, be sure you don't look down at your tablet or cell phone for extended periods of time. Texting on your mobile device for long periods of time as part of your daily job could cause neck strain and pain. In addition, do not rest your phone into the crook of your neck and shoulder, as this may cause strain.
3. Poor Posture Habits
Forward head posture, or constantly slouching, places strain on your neck and spine. By keeping your head and body aligned, you may find your neck pain diminishing. Rather than slouching forward with your neck extended, make it a habit to stand up straight with your ears directly above your shoulders.
Recognize the danger of forward head posture. Forward head posture simply refers to extending your head and neck forward in front of your shoulders.
If you stand or sit in such a way, you may place excess stress and strain on your spine and neck. At the end of the day, your neck muscles may become sore and fatigued. Eliminate pain and stiffness by practicing good posture habits.
Be mindful of your habits every day. If you keep the above mentioned tips in mind, you may find your neck pain easing. As a precaution, if you continue to experience neck pain, with or without accompanying symptoms, schedule an appointment with a pain specialist. Have the doctor take an evaluation, physical examination, and tests to rule out any medical cause for your neck pain.
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