Traditionally, patients suffering with low back pain have made up the greater number of pain related visits to doctors. Yet, the number of neck pain sufferers is growing. We are seeing more patients with painful neck conditions at our Toronto back pain clinic than in the past.
Society-wide increases of activities that strain the neck are leading towards an increase in neck injuries among patients. Neck strains and associated pain can be linked to extensive use of technology. Mobile hand-held devices are becoming ubiquitous, with some people owning more than one device and using them constantly. Look around you; we are becoming a society of hunched-over people, especially among our teenagers.
There is excessive strain on the spine when one is mostly looking in a forward and downward position at any hand held mobile device (mobile phone, video game unit, computer, mp3 player, e-reader).
Technology users too easily slide into poor posture involving the head, neck and shoulders. This can result in headaches, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, even compromised breathing. The usual symptoms include neck ache, shoulder ache, numbness and tingling that extends down the arms, even as far as the fingers.
This forward head posture is a real problem for our “mobile” society.
Consider that the average human head weighs 10 lbs in a neutral position (when your ears are over your shoulders). For every inch you tilt your head forward, the pressure on your spine doubles. So if you’re looking at your ipad, e-reader or smart phone in your lap, for example, your neck is holding up 20 or 30 lbs! This puts tremendous strain on your spine and can cause misalignment of the cervical vertebrae and spinal discs.
Some effects include: the soft tissue of the cervical spine gets sore and inflamed; there can be muscle strain, disc herniations, pinched nerves, and – over enough time – even a change in the natural curve of the neck.
At Back Clinics of Canada we are seeing an increase in the number of younger patients complaining of neck and shoulder pain, numbness in the arms, hands and fingers, and general lethargy.
“We need to be aware of our posture not just when standing and walking, but also when sitting. I always remind patients, when seated keep your feet flat on the floor, roll your shoulders back and down, have a chair with proper lumbar (lower back) support. But it’s so important also to remember to hold your head up so that your ears are over your shoulders,” says Dr. Nusbaum. “This will help to mitigate neck strain and injury.”
“It’s a good idea to buy a headset for use with mobile devices, and to always hold the device up so it’s at a good angle with your vision,” continues Dr. Nusbaum. “Too many people hold their device near or in their lap, which causes them to slump over and hang their heads.”
For patients who are experiencing chronic, serious neck pain and shoulder pain, Back Clinics of Canada offers a safe, non-invasive treatment that heals weakened and damaged spinal discs and restores them to a more natural healthy state. Read about our proprietary successful High Performance Healing System™ to find out more.
