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Excessive Use of Computers & Spinal Disorders

1/4/2022

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Sitting down glued to a screen for long periods has numerous disadvantages; consequently, physical and mental injuries can develop. The direct bodily impact of excessive computer use adversely affects the spinal cord, arms, muscles, joints, and so on. Mentally, it’s been shown there’s a negative association between screen time and psychological well-being.

Computer-Related Injuries
Research indicates that increased computer-related duties are independent risk factors leading to multiple health problems. Musculoskeletal symptoms are frequent discomforts among middle-aged people in the workplace. Today, many report these symptoms 20 years earlier than previous generations. Can we blame modern devices such as computers for this?

Causes of Computer-Related Injuries
Sitting behind a desk and working with computers for long periods can trigger issues with the spine's joints and bones. Among these issues are backache, muscle tension, and muscle weakness, potentially leading to complications such as a herniated disk and short-term discomfort in the arm or leg. Spinal discomfort and tension of the vertebrae leading to long-term abnormalities are likely, especially with incorrect sitting posture. The most common computer-related problem is spinal discomfort, which is primarily caused by:
  • Uncomfortable desks & chairs
  • Poor posture
  • Inactivity

Eyestrain & Fatigue
The human eye is structurally evolved to view objects at a distance of at least six meters. Working with computers for long periods and thus focusing the eyes at the same distance point that’s too close places extra demands on eye muscles.

The computer screen can also induce eye fatigue, mainly when there’s a considerable difference in illumination from one web page (or file) to the next. To avoid this, one can reduce the contrast and brightness of the screen by adjusting the controls or using dark mode, especially at night. It's unfortunate to hear that headaches from excessive working with computers commonly occur to people. Although research has not yet determined how common it is in the general population, chiropractors for migraines in Hickory, for instance, can undoubtedly benefit patients in relieving such tensions.

Proper Posture; Placement of Computer Components
When working with desktop computers for extensive periods, most people naturally slouch over or down in the chair. This wrong posture can overstretch spinal ligaments and pressure the discs and neighboring parts in the spine. Poor posture also includes looking down whenever typing on the keyboard. It's rather challenging to learn how to “touch type.” However, after discovering the rewards, making an effort is easily justified. Keeping the eyes directed on the screen is a must for perfect posture.

Monitor, Keyboard, & Mouse
The screen’s position (monitor) should be such where its horizontal centerline and the eye level intersect, or the centerline is slightly lower than the eye level. The ideal distance between the monitor and the eyes is at least 20 inches (51 cm)– i.e., approximately the arm length extended fully (grown-ups).

The keyboard should be placed at a height where the elbows rest comfortably at the sides. People can use ergonomic keyboards to hold hands and wrists in more convenient positions. The forearms should be roughly parallel with (and preferably resting on) the floor and level with the keyboard. We should place the mouse at the same height as the correctly set keyboard and as near as possible to the side of the perfectly placed keyboard.

Laptop-Related Injuries
Laptops make you raise your arms and shoulders too far to reach the keyboard. Hence, If possible, a desktop computer should be utilized. Otherwise, we should connect peripheral components such as a separate keyboard, mouse, and laptop stand to our notebook. The increasing use of laptop computers has caused more overuse injuries of the shoulder, arm, wrist, hand, as well as eyestrain. If working too much with computers makes you feel you need medical care for neck pain in Hickory, upper cervical chiropractors are highly specialized for such spinal ache relief.

Children
When children play video games for too long, they can experience particular physical and psychological problems. In 9-year-old children, playing too many video games is directly linked to an increased risk of LBP. Moreover, the chances of LBP are higher in girls than in boys, and the likelihood increases with age.

Screen Time & Psychological Well-Being
A detailed study on 40,337 individuals–children and adolescents–revealed a negative association between screen time and psychological well-being. Researchers evaluated several psychological well-being measures (like self-control and emotional stability). They demonstrated that psychological well-being shows a noticeable weakening, particularly among adolescents, moving from an hour a day of screen time to 7 or more hours a day.

Healthy Living Strategies to Avoid Computer Injuries
Ergonomic interventions–especially physical interactions between elements of a working environment–can significantly help avoid computer‐related musculoskeletal disorders.

Mindset; Internalizing Optimally
Good health is much more than a number on the scale; it's a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. This ultimate well-being is not a stationary condition of the absence of some disease or illness; it's a dynamic state we should continuously pursue. Mindset–the desire to reach this state–is the foundational puzzle piece required we should internalize.

Spinal Care 
Research shows that people sitting in front of a computer screen are more likely to develop serious spine issues. Spine injuries are common to many people working with computers, with significant, complex effects requiring chiropractic care. Upper Cervical Chiropractic doctors are specialized to bolster, for example, any kind of spinal misalignment.

If you live in Catawba Country, NC, and suffer from computer-related injuries, you may seek an upper cervical chiropractor in Hickory. They'd ensure you’re provided with the best natural care.

Habits & Movement; Physical Exercise
When utilizing a computer, the user should be physically active as much as possible, for example, by:
  • Using the whole arm (not just wrist) when moving the mouse
  • Typing continuously, but lightly & gently
  • Walking for two to three minutes per hour
  • Taking frequent short breaks
  • Doing stretching exercises at the desk
  • Increase flexibility; combining tasks so that all body parts move
  • Routine exercises (primarily jogging) can strengthen the spine muscles
  • Avoiding long, uninterrupted duties by mixing & scheduling tasks
  • Letting arms relax, if possible
  • Removing hands from the keyboard when not actively typing
  • Looking away frequently from the screen and focusing on faraway objects

No one should work with a computer for too long, especially fibromyalgia patients who should keep shifting themselves constantly. To help both ache and fatigue levels, a fibromyalgia upper cervical chiropractor in Hickory, for example, can provide some relief as you try to fight against this challenging disorder.

When To Visit Your Doctor
​
Regular eye examinations should be undertaken to circumvent any underlying disorders that cause blurring, headaches, and other severe computer-related problems. After hard work on desktop computers, persistent aches between the shoulder blades may appear. If you suffer from such back pain in Hickory or elsewhere, you may need upper cervical chiropractic care. 
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How To Manage A Pinched Nerve With A Chiropractor for Migraines In Hickory

Neck pain in Hickory, or soreness in other parts of your body, can come from a variety of different sources. These range from arthritis to tendonitis to torn cartilages in your joints. This also doesn’t include the variety of other conditions that have back pain in Hickory as a common symptom. One common such example is getting a pinched nerve in the upper part of the spine, also known as cervical radiculopathy. This generally occurs when bone spurs start to appear around the discs in the spine. When everything is working well, the discs should absorb the shocks between each individual vertebra. A bone spur is a small bit of bone that is formed as we age and discs get weaker. When things go properly, bone spurs support the vertebrae as they get weaker, However, in some cases, those spurs press on nerve roots, leading to other symptoms.
 
Symptoms of Pinched Nerves
How do you tell that the soreness you are dealing with stems from a pinched nerve? No matter what area it’s in, you’re going to need to have an in-depth exam of the affected area to be absolutely certain. As an example, a pinched nerve is generally localized in one area. Another thing to note is that these are normally very sharp soreness. By comparison, if you simply overexerted a muscle, the sensation would likely be a duller strain. In some cases, a pinch may never have any other symptoms. Some people feel a sensation of pins and needles in a certain area. Others may feel numbness or weakness when trying to lift something.
 
Depending on where you feel your symptoms and the exact nature of them, your medical professional may be able to determine if it is a pinched nerve or not quite quickly. Generally, though, an exam will still be administered. These start by testing sensitivity, strength, and reflexes. You may be told to do different stretches and movements to determine what leads to symptoms and what relieves them. You’ll also likely need to provide details about your pain. For example, be sure to have a record of when the pain started, and any activities that you do that cause soreness to flare up. If it is soothed by certain activities, be sure to mention those as well. Your doctor might also ask if you have had other health changes or recently increased your physical activities. If the spinal nerves are impacted, they can manifest in surprising ways, like bladder and bowel issues.
 
Say that your standard exam isn’t enough to get to the root of these issues. Your doctor may instead decide to do imaging tests to figure out what’s causing the pinched nerve and where it is. This is mostly administered through X-rays or MRI scans. An X-ray can showcase details going on with your bones, but won’t show your discs and nerves. With this said, they can be useful for determining if you have narrow vertebrae or bone spurs. An MRI is able to do more, showing how healthy your nerves and discs are in detail. In some cases, an X-ray may be done to a certain area to check for bone injury. Lastly, if the issue is due to injured ligaments or tendons, an ultrasound may be needed.
 
Working With Your Fibromyalgia Chiropractor In Hickory
So, if you suspect that a pinched nerve is behind your soreness, or know it for a fact, what can you do? One asset that you have is doing a posture adjustment. To start, try and find a position that helps you feel comfortable with your soreness. After this, you can adapt your lifestyle and living spaces to help you stay in that posture as much as possible. For a lot of people, doing this in the workplace is a major source of problems. One way to get around this is by using a standing workplace. These help prevent pinched nerves, treat existing ones, and just lower overall soreness. You can either ask the HR department to modify your existing space or buy your own.
 
Another thing to note is that whenever you are dealing with a pinched nerve, you want to make sure that you are as rested as possible, along with lowering any activity that leads to soreness. Try and keep the cycle of rest going until your symptoms subside. After this, you can begin to start testing things together. For certain types of issues, like carpal tunnel syndrome, you may be able to use a splint to protect your wrist.
 
You have a lot of options that you can do at home to help lower soreness from pinched nerves. For example, a gentle stretch can help provide relief, but you don’t want to overextend yourself. Focus on smaller movements, and if you find yourself getting sore again, try and do something less intensive. Think about applying heat to your muscles in the affected area to help them loosen. Heat also supports healing by promoting blood flow. Generally, you want to apply it for 10-15 minutes at a time. You can also do ice instead if you prefer. Simply get some ice, wrap it in a washcloth, and apply it to the area for 10-15 minutes as well.
 
If you want additional help, consider looking into NSAIDs. These can help quite a bit with mild soreness and can be brought over the counter. With that said, just make sure that you read and stick to the recommended dosage. These aren’t going to be able to provide total coverage as well. If you find that you’re dealing with consistent, extreme, or repeated soreness, reach out to a medical professional. On top of performing the exams before, they may be able to provide a prescription for more powerful medication. They may also recommend a specialist like a chiropractor in Hickory. This will help you get the treatment you need.

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