FitSugar

Who Knew? Texting's Tied to Neck Pain

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:00:20 -0800

Turns out excessive texting can get you more than a hefty phone bill. Though it's the preferred choice of easy communication for young adults and teens, a new study reveals that texting can actually increase upper body pain in the neck and shoulders.

Though this is only a preliminary study, the research shows that the same neck and shoulder discomfort seen in working adults is now being seen in college students between the ages of 18 and 21, specifically males. Judith Gold, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Temple University’s College of Health Professions and Social Work, says of the study's findings, "What we’ve seen so far is very similar to what we see with office workers who’ve spent most of their time at a computer. The way the body is positioned for texting - stationary shoulders and back with rapidly moving fingers - is similar to the position for typing on a computer."

Interestingly enough, the study didn't point to any texting-caused discomfort in the arms and wrists, but stay tuned - Gold says the research is just underway and further studies are likely to deliver more conclusive answers on whether this is all text-attributable neck tension.

DIY Gift: Heat Soothing Neck Wrap

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:00:30 -0800

I'm all about the holiday season, and I love giving gifts that my friends can actually use. With that in mind, I've decided to replicate my homemade neck wrap, and give the gift of easy relaxation to all my friends.

Making your own at home is super easy and inexpensive -plus your friends will love using the wrap to unwind. All you need is a sock (preferably a longer, knee sock, but most will stretch out), a bag of rice, and lavender or eucalyptus oil, or dried, if you prefer, and some ribbon and note cards (optional for decorating). To learn how to make your own great gift, just keep reading

Belly Sleeping Can Be a Pain in the Neck

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 16:00:00 -0700

Explaining how you injured yourself can be demoralizing, and if you hurt yourself in bed, it can embarrassing, especially if you were just sleeping.

Waking up with a crick in your neck means waking up on the wrong side of the bed, and one way to avoid this "sleeping injury" is to avoid sleeping on your belly. Tucking yourself into bed on your tummy might feel safe and sweet, but since you have to turn your head just to breathe, you're disrupting the alignment of your neck. This position not only leads to a stiff neck, but it can be rough on your lower back too. Breathing deeply is essential to quality sleep, and when you sleep on your belly, you compress your lungs.

If you do wake up with a crick in your neck, check some simple remedies in my post What a Pain in the Neck.
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Have You Ever Seen a Chiropractor?

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 04:30:00 -0800

Chronic back pain is such a common ailment, and it seems like many people see a chiropractor to re-align their spine to get relief. Aside from general aches and pains, I know a few people who also see one for other conditions like asthma and digestive issues. They believe that health of the entire body is determined by the health of their spine. I have been adjusted to deal with upper back and neck issues, but don't see a chiropractor regularly. But I was wondering . . .

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I Don't Buy It: Vertical Neck Traction Kit

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:00:00 -0800

Many people suffer from neck pain and they see chiropractors, massage therapists, and acupuncturists to find some relief. I recently came across this vertical neck traction kit, and I have to say I am not buying it. I love a neck stretch as much as the next yoga instructor, but this piece of equipment looks very scary. If used incorrectly, which seems easy to do, it could cause some serious damage to your already tender neck. You fill the plastic bag with water, which adds weight to the cord that's attached to the door strap, which is attached to the head sling. What if you're trying this out alone and you add too much water? You could end up in more pain than when you started. Not to mention, it just looks so wrong, like a medieval torture device. I think I'll stick to having a real person apply some hands-on cervical traction when I need neck pain relief.

If you have chronic neck pain, would you consider using this? Tell me in the comments section below.

Another Reason to Weight Train: Reduce Neck and Shoulder Pain

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0700

If you've been relying on cardio as your main form of exercise, it's time you think about stepping it up, especially if you suffer from neck and/or shoulder pain.

Recent research has found that women with work related neck pain (often a result of poor posture from sitting all day) experienced significant relief by regularly practicing strengthening exercises that work the neck and/or upper back. So add resistance exercises such as reverse flies, lateral raises, and rows to your plan and you'll not only tone your upper body, but you could also reap the benefits of being free of aches and pains in the long run.

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High Heels Can Be a Pain in the Neck

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

My pal Fab has been seriously weighing the pros and cons of shoes replacing handbags as the ultimate fashion accessory. Makes sense to me because so many of the heels out this season are intricate and high. I mean really high.

High heels can create the illusion of longer legs, but they can also create all kinds of pains in lower legs. But it seems they have negative health consequences from the tip of the toe to the top of the head, or rather that neck. It works like this:

The spine is balanced at either end by the pelvis and the skull. If one end is out of alignment, the other will compensate (for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction - sorry to get so Newtonian when talking about stilettos, I just couldn't resist). To see the chain of events, just read more.

It works like this:

High heels put the pelvis in a tipped forward position.
The head position compensates for this misalignment, most often by moving to a forward head position with the chin jutting forward.
A forward head puts a lot of strain on the muscles that both support the vertebrae in the neck and connect the spine to the skull.
When these muscles are chronically tight they can cause serious neck pain, as well as headaches.

If you love your heels but have some unexplained neck pain, I wholeheartedly suggest switching up your heel height. Alternate high heels with flats and even some more supportive shoes. Hopefully, this can help ease your fashionable pain in the neck.

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Lifting Tip: Relax Your Shoulders

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:30:00 -0700

When you're strength training, whether you're using dumbbells, resistance bands, or machines, most of your mind is probably focused on the muscles getting worked. That's great, but you don't want to forget about proper form, and part of that means thinking about your shoulders. You want to be sure to relax them and elongate your neck.

A trick I do to help me remember to relax my shoulders is to scrunch them all the way up towards my ears on an inhale, and then I release them down on an exhale. Then while keeping my spine straight, I draw my shoulder blades ever so slightly towards one another, so I can feel an opening in my chest. Give it a try the next time you're strength training, because releasing tension in your shoulders will help to prevent neck and shoulder pain after your workout.

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Another Reason to Lift Weights: Reduce Neck Pain

FitSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:45:00 -0800

It is no joke that sitting at a computer all day can be a pain in the neck. Any monotonous and repetitive action can contribute to neck and shoulder tension. Good news though if you have neck pain, the remedy might be as easy as lifting some weights.

Chronically tight upper traps (officially known as the trapezium), the muscle that runs across the top of the shoulder and up into the neck, often translates directly into serious neck pain. A new study found that lifting weights helped relieve neck pain caused by having tight upper traps. The amount of relief was found to be 70 percent improvement. Targeted weight lifting provided more relief than general aerobic exercise. Muscles benefit from strength training since the activity boosts the metabolism of protein in muscle, which is believed to help repair painful muscle tissue. Plus, the stronger the muscle the more workload it can bear, and this might help prevent further problems.

Neck pain can arise from many problems, but if you are experiencing tightness and tenderness across the upper back and shoulders, these are clues that the pain stems from the upper trap.

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Don't Get Whipped by Whiplash?

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 11:00:00 -0800

If you have ever been rear ended while driving you are probably familiar with whiplash. Oh boy is it a pain in the neck! (Sorry, I couldn't resist).

Whiplash always make me think of those big, foamy neck collars. Do you think you are supposed to wear one if you have whiplash? Take this short quiz to find out.

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Take the quiz