Is Your Posture Causing You Pain?

​It is estimated that about 80% of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. One of the main causes of both back and neck pain is poor posture. It’s all-too-common that people, especially those that live sedentary lifestyles and have office jobs, don’t take proper precautions when it comes to their posture, ultimately leading to spinal degenerative disorders and other complications. So how do you know if your posture is the source of your back pain and what can you do to relieve it?

You can tell that your back pain is caused by poor posture if:

• The pain starts in your neck but moves to your back gradually.
• Your pain levels get worse at a certain time of day.
• Pain is relieved after switching from sitting to standing and vice versa, or if light exercise gives you temporary relief.
• Your back and/or neck pain begins shortly after starting a sedentary lifestyle.
• Pain begins suddenly after switching office chairs, getting a new car or new furniture.

There are some ways you can prevent posture-related back and neck pain. First and foremost, be conscious of your lifestyle. The first step to fixing a problem is knowing that, in fact, there is a problem and what’s causing it. If you’re getting a new office job, invest in an ergonomic chair with back support.

If you know you’ll be sitting for long periods of time, take breaks and walk around every so often. Stretch every day and go for walks or light jogs. Look up when texting and using the computer to avoid the aptly named “tech neck”, the pain that’s caused by being hunched over a phone or computer all day.

​Lastly, visit your chiropractor. They are experts in neck and back pain and are there to help you live your life to the fullest, most comfortable way. They’ll diagnose and treat your pains in the most efficient way possible, while giving you advice on how to live a better, pain-free lifestyle.