Present-day tech is wonderful but comes with a big price tag. Over the years we’ve seen an increase in clients who come in with neck and upper back pain as well as lower back pain due to jobs that require sitting at a desk and computer. Those same people experience more headaches and occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome and shoulder problems. It’s trickled down to students (high school, college) and anyone who spends excessive amounts of time on a device. In essence, anyone with poor ergonomics.

               What is ergonomics, exactly? It’s the study of someone’s efficiency in their working (or study) environment. Ideally, better ergonomics means better productivity in any situation. Poor ergonomics over time causes health problems and distorted posture. Distorted posture, such as the hump in the upper back, has undergone much scrutiny over the last several decades with research confirming its negative effects.

Well, what do we do about it?

                People hunch over in low-quality chairs without lumbar support, look down at mobile devices, kink their necks to see a computer screen or talk on the phone, lie in bed with overly thick pillows to jerk their heads up to watch TV, crack their neck, etc... all of which cause spinal misalignments (subluxations) and therefore poor posture. Poor posture results from individual subluxations, alteration of normal spinal curves from bad habits, and misfiring of the muscles.

               Regular chiropractic care is necessary for correcting those spinal misalignments. When the spine is in proper alignment (not subluxated) the joints move correctly and the nervous system works just as it should, allowing the muscles to contract properly. Add in 1-2 corrective postural exercises along with easy home therapies and you have a recipe for the attractive, upright, healthy posture we all strive to obtain and maintain.

What should you do about it outside of the office?

Try improving your work/study station using the following tips……

• The height of your chair should be such that your knees and hips sit level, even if that means getting a footrest or ottoman.
• Lumbar support is key! If your chair is lacking, get a lumbar support pad or a ‘bone pillow’ to put behind your belly button. This will keep your lower back healthy for longer.
• Don’t sit closer than an arm’s distance from your computer’s monitor and position the height so it’s straight ahead rather than having to look up or down. Pro tip: if you do that and you’re still not feeling right about it maybe you need to get your eyes checked.
• Phones have changed a lot over the years! Consider using a Bluetooth device or speaker mode to avoid poor neck posture. Phone stands and pop sockets can also be helpful.