Younger generations growing up in the digital age are also joining the ranks of the “typing wounded.” Surveys at two universities found that 40 to 50 percent of undergraduates experienced upper-extremity pain from using their computers. Colleges do not build dormitory furniture to be ergonomically adjustable, said Dr. Benjamin Amick, scientific director of the Institute for Work and Health in Toronto, who was a co-author of those studies. “They build it to be indestructible.”

In addition to repetitive stress problems, sitting at your computer too long places your upper back in a sustained, stressful posture, especially if you tend to lean forward when you’re working. This also puts your neck at an unnatural and strained angle. Lower back pain, in addition to being generated by simply sitting for long periods of time without getting up and moving around, is aggravated by bad posture.

Problems caused by extended computer use can not only lead to an inability to perform your work duties, but can keep you from enjoying the rest of your life, too. Your Mount Laurel chiropractor can assist in eliminating the lower back pain, upper back pain, and/or neck pain that you are currently experiencing. After that, it is important for you to become mindful of your body as you sit at your computer, and to give your body what it naturally needs. You can cultivate the habit of both sitting straight in your chair (as opposed to slouching) and relaxing your shoulders. This will help to relieve tension in your lower and upper back and neck. Take time to stretch periodically to ease muscle tension and encourage healthy blood flow. If your work station permits, sitting on an exercise ball can not only aide in keeping you in a beneficial posture, but can help to strengthen your core muscles as well. (Make sure that the ball is the right size so that when you are seated on it your arms are at a ninety-degree angle to your keyboard.)

Good posture for ease of movement, variety in the motions that you do, and short breaks to relax and stretch will go a long way in keeping your computer work (or play) pain-free.

Partial source: The New York Times, Health Review, June 22, 2009

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Oftentimes back pain is a mystery to many of the people who experience it, and chiropractors are experts at solving that mystery. Why is it that the majority back pain sufferers have not undergone any trauma, accidents, or major injuries prior to the onset of their pain? The answer is that the cumulative effects of improper sitting posture, poor work habits, incorrect lifting, lack of regular exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle-related factors produce most back pain. These factors add up over time and cause stresses and imbalances on the spine producing subluxations that can lead to serious back conditions. The process is similar to the front end of your car being out of alignment. As you decide to drive, there is unbalanced wear and tear on your tires. If you choose not to get the problem fixed, the situation could worsen until a tire “blows.” When the spine is misaligned, the stability of the spine is jeopardized. It’s not only a problem waiting to happen, so to speak, it’s a problem waiting to get worse. And then, something as seemingly benign as reaching down to pick up a piece of paper can be the “final factor” that causes back injury. The surrounding back muscles go into spasm when thisoccurs to stabilize the stressed or injured tissues of the back.

Chiropractors have more education, training, and experience than medical doctors regarding knowledge of dysfunctions of the spine. They provide highly qualified diagnosis and competent treatment for all muscular-skeletal dysfunctions. They not only provide welcomed relief to those suffering from back pain, but they know what will assist you in avoiding further back pain. Along with effectual adjustments and other productive chiropractic therapies, your chiropractor will give you an individual exercise plan and recommend other beneficial lifestyle changes that will keep you well-adjusted and pain-free in the future.

Technorati Tags: back pain, chiropractic, chiropractor, low back pain