Neck pain is a very common issue that the majority of our population will experience at some point in their life.
It is more common than ever as a result of the extended periods of time we are spending staring at computers and cell phones.
As humans, we did not evolve to spend eight hours a day in a seated posture with our heads forward.
This posture puts significant forces on the neck often resulting in strains of the neck muscles and sprains of the ligaments.
Posture is one of the many non-traumatic ways of developing neck pain.
Sports, motor vehicle accidents and poor sleeping positions are also common ways to develop neck injuries or pain.
What Are Other Common Causes Of Neck Pain?
Other less traumatic actions include:
- reaching
- pushing
- pulling
- moving heavy objects
- falls
- All these common activities can trigger neck pain.
Most generally, sprains and strains are not the effects of any single event but rather from reoccurred overloading.
Tendons and ligaments ordinarily maintain their shape when dealing with small isolated stressors, but constant challenges and stressors to the muscles lead to injury in much the same way that continually bending a piece of copper wire will lead it to break. Examples of these less acute types of cervical sprain/strain injuries include bad posture, poor workstations, repetitive movements, prolonged overhead activity, sedentary lifestyles, improper sleep positions, poor bra support and obesity.
Neck Pain Explained
Watch this short video to learn more about what's going on when your neck is sore.
What To Expect Going Forward
In this course we will discuss multiple topics regarding common presentations of neck pain, including when to seek a medical opinion, how to self-manage your symptoms at home, how to work at a desk safely, and some ergonomic tips to set up your home office or workspace.