How Prolonged Computer Work Affects Neck and Back Pain & What You Can Do

Are you a 9-to-5 worker sitting at your computer five days a week? You’re at risk of developing spine injuries. A 2022 study found that over the course of a year, between 42% and 69% of office workers experience neck pain, while 31% to 51% deal with lower back pain.

Prolonged computer work affects neck and back pain, but you can avoid them. Let Allied Pain and Wellness educate you on keeping your spine healthy. We will help you recognize the symptoms and share tips for preventing them so you can live a comfortable and productive life.

The Impact of Prolonged Computer Work on Your Spine

People who often sit at their computer monitor for hours are at risk of ruining their posture. Their tendency to lean closer to the screen gradually impacts their musculoskeletal system. This is how prolonged sitting at a computer affects them.

• Forward Head Posture and Neck Strain: Leaning closer to your computer screen stiffens your neck muscles, which leads to chronic neck pain and headaches.
• Slouched Posture and Lower Back Stress: Poor desk and chair design encourages slouching. The lower back often suffers because of the strain of poor back posture. 
• Spinal Misalignment and Chronic Pain: One of the leading causes of a misaligned spine is a consistently incorrect posture, and those who sit for long periods are at risk.
• Nerve Compression and Radiating Pain: Prolonged slouching pinches the spine’s nerves, and the pain radiates to the arms and legs.

Common Symptoms of Neck and Back Pain from Desk Work

Prolonged computer work affects neck and back pain because the more frequently you stay in the same position, the worse it gets. The pain you feel eventually manifests into symptoms that are hard to ignore.

• Persistent Neck Stiffness and Tension Headaches: Strain due to the consistent forward head posture brings stiffness to your neck and persistent headaches. 
• Mid-Back and Shoulder Discomfort: Hunching over the computer causes tension in your back and upper shoulder muscles, leading eventually to stiffness and muscle pain.
• Lower Back Pain and Sciatic Nerve Irritation: Sitting for extremely long periods compresses the spinal discs and leaves you with a burning pain in your lower back.

How to Prevent and Manage Neck & Back Pain from Computer Work

It’s challenging to work while enduring neck and back pain. More than your productivity, it also affects your health. Luckily, Allied Pain and Wellness offers natural, noninvasive ways to manage the pain caused by prolonged computer work.

Chiropractic Adjustments for Spinal Alignment

Our chiropractor, Dr. Shahen Simian, can give you immediate relief from chronic pain. We use realignment techniques designed to release extra spinal pressure from the spinal cord to treat neck and back pain. You can trust our highly trained staff to take extra care of you.

Ergonomic Adjustments for Better Posture

Ergonomic adjustments can greatly improve sitting posture for lower back pain. We recommend keeping your feet flat on the floor, elbows bent at a 90-degree angle, and your monitor at eye level.

Stretching and Strengthening Exercises

Activating your muscles by stretching and lifting weights will strengthen them without causing muscle fatigue. Core exercises combined with upper-body strength training will help reduce lower back and neck pain caused by sitting at your computer.

Taking Frequent Movement Breaks

Short but frequent movements have tremendous benefits for your body. When you stand up or go for a walk, you activate different muscle groups and help release tension from sitting. Taking a movement break while working helps prevent neck and back pain. 

Why Choose Team Allied Pain and Wellness for Postural and Spinal Care?

Led by Dr. Simian, our team is dedicated to providing top-notch care specific to the ailments of office workers and professionals. You can trust us to give you the safest treatments to relieve your neck and back pain.

• Focused on your well-being: Our holistic approach concentrates on lasting treatment that helps prevent future injuries and ailments.
• Trusted for posture treatment: We provide dedicated treatment to help align your posture and relieve pain.
• Personalized approaches just for you: We customize chiropractic treatments to support your unique posture and lifestyle.
• Noninvasive care for lasting results: Our methods don’t require surgery and rely on natural ways to heal your body.

Takeaway

Prolonged computer work affects neck and back pain in many ways, from a slouched posture to spinal misalignment. For office workers, it’s important to become aware of the impacts and symptoms to keep your spine healthy.

Neck and back pain can be effectively managed through a combination of ergonomics, physical therapy, healthy habits, and chiropractic care. Receiving treatment from a trusted chiropractor like Dr. Shahen Simian can make a meaningful difference in your recovery.

Schedule a consultation with Allied Pain and Wellness today and be on your way to a painless and productive life.