Sore Neck? It could be the Tech…

Neck pain is one of the most common complaints our patients seek care for at Blackburn Allied Health, and with more and more people utilising a computer at a desk for work, this is correlating with many cases of chronic neck pain and headaches.

Working for long periods of time at a computer, laptop or phone can lead to forward head posture- to you this may feel or look like your chin leaning out further than the optimal alignment of your neck. This puts a lot of strain on other parts of the body that try to compensate, most notably the muscles around the neck and upper shoulders, but it can extend further down the spine. Other areas that can become dysfunctional also include the jaw, ribs and shoulders as a result.

Symptoms may include:

Aching neck and shoulders
Headaches
Jaw pain or clicking

Treatment

Treatment goals can include increasing range of motion as often stiff muscles can limit our mobility.

Massage can increase blood flow and encourage elimination of waste products in tissues, decreasing overall pain.

Including some exercises to balance postural muscles can help prevent some issues over the long term.

Work adjustments to consider:

Taking some time to ensure correct desk alignment- lifting or lowering your PC or chair to suit you.
Post work stretches – lie down on rolled up towel along the length of the spine
Regular breaks/movement at the desk ie a short walk, rolling the shoulders, stretching the neck.
Sit/stand desk adjustment or adopt a different position for a period of time.
Have a regular massage treatment.

Whilst engaging in computer work or phone use has become almost unavoidable, there are ways we can ease and adapt to the physical outcomes. Blackburn Allied Health can assist with postural advice to set up your desk, prescribe stretches to counter the strain and treat the symptoms that arise from continuous computer work.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26182924/
https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/neck-pain-concept-illustration_42107592.htm#page=2&query=neck%20pain%20office%20workers&position=24&from_view=search&track=ais&uuid=63342e63-27d1-4997-83ea-9ab37bfcb220