Our lifestyles have changed dramatically in the past thirty to forty years. We are spending more and more time sitting down at computers or mobile devices, watching television and driving and this means we are seeing neck pain becoming increasingly more common. Neck pain has now joined lower back pain as one of the two most common pain locations in the body. Acute neck pain (pain that manifests abruptly) generally has little to do with this change in our society, but can be caused by sudden jerky movements of the head and neck, or by trauma injuries from sporting accidents and falls.

Whiplash occurs when the head is suddenly moved backwards and forwards, causing the muscles and ligaments of the neck to strain and in some cases tear. Whiplash is commonly experienced in rear-end car collisions and can produce pain and aching to the neck and back, referred pain to the shoulders and often headaches.

Simple neck pain implies pain that arises due to relatively minor problems with the muscles, ligaments joints and nervous systems of the neck. Simple neck pain can come on after a minor injury or sprain but in many cases no injury can be identified. It can arise after something as simple as sleeping badly in bed at night. This type of pain comes about because the sprained tissue becomes irritated and sometimes inflamed which causes pain signals to be sent to the spinal cord.

However, most neck pain that is not caused by whiplash or trauma and has a postural component as part of the underlying problem. Sitting in front of a computer for long periods with static seating frequently leads to muscular, joint and neural pain in the neck, back and shoulders.

It is estimated that 45% of the working population is affected by neck pain. Therefore it is very important to understand the different aspects of poor posture that contribute to this type of pain in order to prevent and manage it.

A common cause of postural neck pain is the forward head and shoulder posture. This occurs when the neck slants forward, placing the head in front of the shoulders (this can be observed while working at a computer, laptop, ipad, iphone etc.) This position places undue stress on the vertebrae of the lower neck. The muscles of the upper back are also continually overworked to counter-balance the pull of gravity on the forward head. Forward shoulders and a rounded upper back with increased extension of the cervical spine often accompanies this position. This leads to very tight pectoral muscles and causes a lot of tension between the shoulders as well as contributing to the neck pain.

Physiotherapy assessment and treatments such as manual therapies, massage and stretching can help ease symptoms. Postural re-education is key. A patient specific exercise program to help mobilise and strengthen the back, neck and shoulders in order to pull the shoulders back into a neutral position, can alleviate some of this tension and pain. Stretching before and at intervals during the working day can also do wonders for tight, tired muscles.

Another way to minimise the risk of developing postural neck pain, or to manage it if you already suffer from it, is to adjust your workspace around you so that you can work comfortably.

Desk

• Most desks have a fixed height; therefore it is important to ensure you have an adjustable height chair so that your arms can operate the keyboard comfortably

Chair

• Always sit as far back as possible in the seat so that your lower back is well supported

• The back of the chair should be high to support the middle back

• Your chair height should let you type with your forearms placed horizontally on the keyboard

• Try to keep your feet flat on the ground, if your feet dangle off the ground when you’re sitting fully back in the chair, using a foot rest is a good idea

Keyboard

• Pull up close to your keyboard

• Position it directly in front of your body

• Wrist rests can help maintain a neutral wrist position when you are taking a break from typing but are not recommended for use during typing as typing in this position may cause carpal syndrome in the wrist

If you are suffering with neck, shoulder or upper back pain please get in touch with one of our highly trained Physiotherapists or contact us on 01273 667826 at one of our clinics.