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Persistent back and neck pain is a part of life for many people, especially those who spend their days at a desk or in a car. Sitting for hours each day can trigger a wide range of health problems, including tingling hands, stiffness, and even chronic headaches. Use the following guide to find out how a sedentary lifestyle negatively affects your body and how you can get relief.

Health Problems Caused By Sitting

Back & Neck Pain

Maintaining good posture while sitting for hours can be difficult, especially if your chair isn’t ergonomically correct. Sitting forces your lower back and spine into an unnatural shape, weakening the supporting muscles that hold you up. Eventually, you may develop chronic pain in your lower back and neck that doesn’t go away even after stretching.

Sciatica

Poor posture also puts pressure on the spine itself, potentially causing herniated discs that can compress the sciatic nerve. This condition, known as sciatica, manifests as lingering pain that shoots down the back of the leg. This health issue can usually be treated without resorting to surgery.

Headaches

Slumping forward at a desk dramatically increases pressure on your neck, pinching nerves and interfering with the flow of blood to your brain. People who spend hours at their desks every day often experience frequent headaches caused by poor posture.

How to Minimize the Effects

Seek Chiropractic Care

neck painChiropractors specialize in helping patients live healthy, comfortable lives by adjusting misalignments in the spine. If you’re living with back or neck pain, chiropractic care may offer an alternative to medication or surgery.

Make Your Work Environment More Comfortable

While ergonomic chairs and desks don’t fully mimic the natural curvature of the spine, they can help reduce the impact of sitting for extended periods. For maximum comfort, choose a chair with adjustable backrests, lower-back support, and a tilting seat. A desk should also be short enough to allow you to type with your arms at a 90-degree angle to your body. However, it should be high enough that you don’t have to look down at the monitor.

Standing desks are innovative solutions that protect posture. Many designs can be lowered for seating, allowing you to switch up your positions throughout the day.

 

If you spend too much time at a desk, the friendly staff at Chiropractic Associates of Platteville LLC will help you find relief for your back or neck pain. Since 1950, they’ve provided first-class treatment to patients throughout southwestern Wisconsin, and their team has the tools to help you achieve the best health possible. Visit them online to learn more about how they can help, or call (608) 348-3156 to make your first appointment.

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