Neck Pain Prevention Tips

Neck is probably one of the most critical parts of the body and is used in almost every aspect of day to day functions and movement. Every heard of "Save your neck!", "This has become a pain in the neck"? These phrases were coined to indicate the seriousness of any damage to the structures in the neck and the impact the damage can cause to your lifestyle.

Human neck is composed of 7 vertebrae labelled C1-C7 with C7 being the one joining to the shoulder.
All the vertebrae are cushioned by discs which act as shock absorbers. All the vertebrae and discs are held together by muscles.

Neck is basically in the shape of an S and any damage to the structures makes the S structure loses its flexibility (imagine a spring that is broken in between!). Over a period of time the discs get degenerated making the neck very inflexible and inducing other symptoms.

It is important to preserve the neck so that comfortable movement and flexibility are retained even at older ages.

Some of the tips that can help you preserve your neck are:

1) If you are a serious computer user ensure your work place is ergonomic in nature and your screen is placed and comfortable distance from your eyes. The screen should be in level with your eyes so that you don't have to crane your neck.
2) Do not use 2-3 pillows and sleep lazily. Over a period of time it can twist your neck and degenarate it. If possible sleep without a pillow or at least use a medium firm pillow. If you can practice sleeping facing the ceiling straight.
3) Avoid reading in trains, buses
4) Take frequent breaks from computer, TV or any stationery position and perform stretches of neck, back and other parts of the body. If you can a small walk once every 1-2 hours will do you good.
5) Do not get massaged on the neck or take barber's help to adjust your neck! This can be dangerous. Always go to highly qualified doctors, chiropractioners if you have neck pain.
6) Please pay attention to your posture. Chin tucked in and head up is (military) will do you good.
7) Avoid long two wheel driving especially when faced with bad roads!
8) Do not try to any heavy and unwieldy objects from a higher position to the ground suddenly. Do take help from others when doing something like that.
9) Do not perform sudden body building without gradually getting fitter. Do not try to lift heavy weights and become a body builder overnight.
10) Do not watch late night TV and also excessive TV!. This forces you to keep your neck in a twisted position for long and can damage the structures in it

Remember once cervical spondylosis sets in your neck there is no going back but only management. It is much better to prevent the onset of same than dealing with it later on.

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