If lately your neck has been feeling strained and you haven’t experienced an injury, it could be because you are putting a bit more pressure on your neck muscles than they are able to actually handle. When that is the case, over time, it can lead to neck discomfort and sometimes even pain.
The good news is that there are several things that you can do that can help to prevent neck strain from being an issue. If you’d like to know what some of those things are, here are five tips that can keep your neck in good condition during the day and also at night.
Invest in an Ergonomic Chair
Whether you work in an office or at home, there’s a pretty good chance that you spend a significant amount of time at a desk looking at your computer screen. And when you’re not in a chair that provides your spine with the proper support that it needs, over time that can lead to neck strain. That’s why it’s a good idea to invest in an ergonomic chair. It helps to reduce neck and back discomfort, plus it puts less pressure on your hips and makes working easier too. You can purchase an ergonomic chair at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Staples or Walmart.
Use a Headset for your Phone
Thanks to all of the features that come with a smartphone, people are constantly using it. But when they are on a call and they use their head to cradle the phone on their shoulder, that can lead to neck problems. One way to avoid doing this is to use a headset for your phone. Not only does it help to eliminate neck pressure, but it’s a safer way to talk while you’re driving, too.
Maintain Proper Posture
Some people have neck problems simply because they have poor posture. They don’t walk with their shoulders back. They slouch in their chairs. Both of those habits can also lead to neck issues. If maintaining proper posture is a challenge for you, there are things that you can do to remedy the matter. For tips on how to maintain proper posture, visit Spine-Health and put “tips for improving posture” in the search field.
Drink Lots of Water
Say that you’re constantly having neck strain problems, so you make an appointment with a physical therapy office like Results Physiotherapy to get advice on what should be done to alleviate your neck pain. One thing that they might recommend is that you drink more water. Although initially that might seem like a surprising tip, the reality is that the discs in your spine are made up of mostly water. This means that the more hydrated you are, the more support your spine will have and you’ll feel less neck muscle strain.
Sleep on Your Back
Sometimes neck issues come as a result of what happens at night rather than in the day. A good mattress, some firm pillows and sleeping on your back are three other things that can help to prevent putting additional stress on your neck. If you’re wondering when it’s time to replace your mattress for a newer one, visit Choose a Mattress and put “how to tell you need a new mattress” in the search field.