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Stop Doing These Things If You Want Less Neck Pain
Neck pain can be a real … pain in the neck. Why is neck pain so common, and how can you stop it? While you can have neck pain related to trauma, most cases are linked to things you do every day.
At The Spine and Sports Center in Sugarland and Houston, Texas, board-certified physiatrist and spine specialist Dr. Benoy Benny sees and treats many cases of neck pain every year. Of course, prevention is your best defense against chronic pain, so here’s what you can do to help stop your neck pain in its tracks.
4 things to stop doing to reduce neck pain
Neck pain can be caused by an injury, such as whiplash from a car accident, but the majority of chronic cases are caused by lifestyle or work habits.
1. Stop looking down at devices
One of the top causes of neck pain is what is popularly known as tech neck. You get tech neck when you tuck your chin down and stay that way so you can look at your phone, laptop on your lap or a coffee table, or monitor set too low on your desk.
Making sure you can hold your head naturally so you’re looking at screens straight on instead of from above can prevent tech neck. Use a proper desk and desk chair, and adjust your screen height so you’re looking straight ahead.
2. Stop sleeping on your stomach
If you’re one of those people who loves lying face down with your face sideways on the pillow, this one can be a hard pill to swallow. Unfortunately, sleeping on your stomach with your head turned one way or another can leave you with an awful crick in your neck.
Try side sleeping if you hate sleeping on your back. Invest in a body pillow that keeps your spine in a good position and your knees apart, and buy a good head pillow that gives your neck the right amount of support. You’ll sleep and feel better!
3. Stop carrying backpacks and purses wrong
Backpacks are popular for students or people who use public transportation. Carrying a backpack that isn’t properly loaded, fitted, and carried can cause severe neck pain. So can a purse that pulls hard against your upper shoulder, putting strain on one side of your neck.
Minimize what you’re carrying, load your backpack so the heaviest items lay close to your back and lighter items are in the outer pockets, and tighten the straps so it’s not hanging off your shoulders. Try carrying large purses crossbody to spread out the weight.
4. Stop wearing bad brassieres
It’s a fact: Wearing the wrong bra puts strain on your upper back. If you’re generously endowed, wearing the wrong bra can cause severe neck, back, and shoulder pain. Go to a proper shop with a fitter and ask for help choosing a bra that offers the right amount of support.
What to do next
If you have chronic neck pain, we can help. For a pain consultation, call our location closest to you or book an appointment online today. We diagnose the source of your neck pain, recommend treatment, and get you feeling better as soon as possible.
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