One of the most common areas for people to hold stress and tension is in their upper back and neck. This can be aggravated by poor posture, increased use of computers/tablets/cell phones, as well as repetitive work in front of the body.
You may have heard the term "text neck" or "techno neck". This refers to the increase in neck and upper back pain due to the increased use of technology. We tend to push our head forward and look down when we use our different forms of technology causing a forward head posture. For every inch the head is forward from the shoulders it is the equivalent of 10 pounds of pressure on the lower neck and upper back. Most people will come forward at least 3 inches while looking down at their cell phones. The more frequently and longer you are in a forward head posture the faster your muscles and joints tighten into this position. Over time this causes a decrease in the normal, healthy curvature of the spine and can lead to increased arthritis, pinched nerves, tension headaches, and neck and back pain.
Chiropractic adjustments help to restore motion to the joints and relieve pressure from the nerves so your muscles can work and your body can function optimally. Dr. Stange shared some wonderful exercises you can do at home to help relieve the tension in your upper back and neck, called the YTWL exercises. If you didn't see his video, go to our Facebook or Instagram pages and watch as he demonstrates these exercises.
Have as good a day as you can!
Dr. Sarah