Did you know slouching at your computer could lead to serious health problems? Chronic poor posture, especially during extended computer use, impedes lung function and increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in the neck, shoulders, and spine. It’s a bad cycle that is fairly simple—bad posture feels normal, then worsens, leading to more pain and slouching. This cycle leads to even more slouching and slumping and become harder to correct as one feels normal in bad posture.
How Does It Happen?
Sitting hunched over our desks for hours throws our spines out of alignment, impacting the neck and upper back regions. Common bad computer posture habits include slouching, hunching, and curling legs under chairs. These positions, unfortunately, become ingrained even when we’re not at the computer, further perpetuating the problem. This computer posture makes us get in the habit of bending over, even when we’re not using our computers. Unfortunately, most people today spend a lot of time working in these positions.
Who knew that a little slumping and slouching at your computer could lead to so much damage?
The hidden dangers of ‘text neck”
Picture this. Our head, like a bowling ball, rests comfortably balanced on your spine. Now, imagine that ball inching forward, throwing your entire alignment out of whack. This imbalance creates a domino effect of stress: strain in our neck, shoulder, lower back and hips.
Forward head posture, a prevalent issue where the neck protrudes forward, placing the head in front of the shoulders, is a leading cause of neck pain. This forward head posture stresses the spine from the top to the skull and down to the shoulders’ base, triggering a cascade of structural problems. It compromises the stability of the shoulder blades, influences the movement pattern of trunks and upper body. Additionally, it can intensify the curvature in our lower back that prompts the hips to tilt forward and the stomach to protrude. Essentially, adopting this posture not only burdens the lower back and hip joints but also disrupts the body’s natural alignment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper posture for overall spinal health.
Optimizing Posture and Avoiding Injuries at Your Desk
If you sit at a computer for several hours a day, it’s very important that you cultivate healthy sitting habits. The human spine is not built to sustain prolonged periods of immobility, especially under the constant strain of poor posture, which can lead to significant spinal issues.
You can help address the issue by providing your lower back and the lumbar area of your spine with optimal support (ergonomic office chairs, lumbar pillows, etc.) Also, you can make it a habit to stand and stretch every 30 minutes to alleviate the strain on your body, incorporating both general and neutral-specific stretches. Our bodies are not designed to sit for long periods of the day. So, the more that you can stand and move around the better, there are even standing desks that are much better for your body and your productivity. The utilization of standing desks, for instance, not only benefits your physical health but can also enhance your productivity, offering a practical solution to the challenges posed by prolonged sitting.
Upper Cervical Care in Chicago, Illinois
Addressing spinal health is crucial for maintaining good posture, and consulting with an upper cervical chiropractor can be a transformative step towards achieving this. Specializing in a gentle yet effective NUCCA technique, upper cervical chiropractic care focuses on preventing neck injuries, alleviating headaches, enhancing posture, and promoting overall body balance. Upper cervical chiropractic is a popular choice when it comes to treating posture related problems because it’s a precise and non-invasive approach that offers a natural alternative to chronic posture challenges.
To find an upper cervical specialist in your area go to http://www.NUCCA.org/ or if you are in the Chicago, Illinois area, you can schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Young H. Chung (NUCCA Chiropractor).
You can call us at (224) 676-1920 or fill out a contact form to set up an appointment at our Chicago, IL location.
About NUCCA Wellness Clinic of Chicago
Want to hear from people like you? Check out our reviews here.
Dr. Young Chung of NUCCA Wellness Clinic of Chicago, with a location in Chicago and a 2nd location in Wheeling is an Upper Cervical Specialist trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). His upper cervical clinic also serves Northbrook, Glenview, Morton Grove, and other surrounding communities in Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.
Dr. Chung is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines and other headaches, whiplash injuries, post-concussion syndrome.
