People who sit at a desk or on mobile devices all day may find themselves using poor posture which results in back and neck pain.
One of our customers’ most common ailments is neck pain caused by our modern, sedentary lifestyle. Whether at work, at a computer, or at home, watching movies on a mobile device, we do our neck a great disservice, leading to sharp, stabbing neck, shoulder, and upper back.
The main reason these activities cause pain is that we often have very poor posture as we do these activities. Whether sitting at a desk with a chair that is too low or too high or holding a mobile device in front of you on your lap and looking down at the screen, you are straining the muscles and tissue structures surrounding your neck or cervical spine. Over time, that strain leads to neck pain.
The most common symptoms that clients describe are:
- Localized pain in the upper back, shoulders and lower neck
- Jaw pain
- Mild or even severe headaches
- Pain when tilting the head forward and down
- Tingling sensation or even numbness in the arms and hands
Neck pain can be severe, but even when minor, it can profoundly affect your quality of life. So, a Thai massage for your neck is more than a luxurious treat; it’s a therapeutic solution. First, acupressure and stretching in a Thai massage will improve blood circulation, which helps ease pain. A Thai massage will also help reduce the stiffness in your neck and shoulders, restoring your range of motion.
But while regular Thai massages can provide much-needed relief, you should also take steps to prevent neck pain. The essential thing you can do is to focus on improving your posture. Take a good look at your workplace and incorporate any ergonomic adjustments you need to improve how you sit at your desk.
Another workplace tip is to incorporate short stretching breaks into your day. You can watch many short stretching videos online or ask your Thai massage practitioner about special neck exercises you can perform at work or home. You don’t have to spend more than a few minutes every few hours doing these stretches, but they will significantly affect your problems.
When you get home from work, try to reduce your screen time, especially with mobile devices that you hold in front of you. Looking down at a phone or tablet is even worse for your neck than sitting at a desk, so don’t add to the trouble by continuing to strain your neck after work.
Another simple way to reduce neck pain is to reduce your stress. While practising qigong or meditation is an excellent way to offset sitting at a desk, these activities take time to develop discipline. So start by ensuring that you give yourself time for quality sleep. Sleep is one of the best ways to reduce stress, giving your body time to recover.
Thai massage is a good antidote for neck pain caused by our sedentary lifestyle. However, taking the time to alleviate tension and stress in your neck muscles can improve comfort, and overall well-being is equally important.