This is not an uncommon feeling for many, who spend time in front of screens, have non-optimal posture, exercise using less than optimal mechanics, or breathe inefficiently. Each and all of these can cause neck tightness and discomfort.
Let's unpack this a bit.Tech neck or text neck was a term that started in the later 2000s. It was termed to describe the posture and symptoms of those who were suffering from the effects of screen-type technology from computers to cell phones.
What we do to our bodies while using technology can definitely drive less-than-optimal posture habits and cause neck and shoulder discomfort. Other daily activities that drive neck and shoulder issues can include the mechanics we use when exercising, our posture, and one of the biggest, how we breathe.
Boiled down, it is our habits.
How do you change these things?
1. Awareness - You now know these things can be driving your neck issues.
2. Make small changes. Don't try to change everything at the same time.
3. Take breaks. When working, stand up and reset your posture regularly.
4. Learn to breathe well. We breathe more than 20,000 times a day. When we breathe inefficiently we use our neck muscles instead of the primary muscles for breathing. Overusing our neck muscles can drive neck tightness, pain, and non-optimal posture.
5. Modify your exercises to support proper neck and shoulder joint alignment. Many cues, like pulling your shoulders down and back, put stress on your neck and change the alignment of your shoulder.
6. If you are unsure where to start, seek a professional's assistance.
Neck and shoulder discomfort can be not just annoying but exhausting and debilitating.
If you have been struggling with neck discomfort and are confused about where to start, reach out.
We can help.
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