Have you been experiencing neck pain and stiffness since you started working from home? The two may be linked, and it all comes down to your posture and lifestyle habits. Learn more about it here.
People have been working from home long before the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since its wake, an increasing number of people have found themselves working from home or opting for roles that allow them to work remotely.
Remote work afforded us a massive advantage in curbing a public health crisis. Many people also find it preferable. The flexibility of working from your favorite chair in pajamas is alluring. However, there is an increased risk of developing neck pain.
Without realizing it, many people sit with poor posture for prolonged periods. It also doesn’t help that your work-from-home setting might not have adequate ergonomics to support your neck and back, causing neck pain.
One of the most holistic treatments for neck pain is acupuncture. At Acupuncture Health Services in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, Michael Beys, LAc, DACm, and his team understand how uncomfortable and disruptive neck pain can be. We use the unique healing properties of acupuncture to relieve pain and restore full functionality to your neck.
Here we break down how working from home can cause that pain in your neck and how acupuncture can help relieve it.
How working from home could be causing your neck pain
Neck pain is a common condition affecting millions of Americans. However, if you have a job that requires you to sit hunched over a laptop for extended periods, that might be causing your neck pain. Here’s how:
Poor posture
The odds are that most of the time, you are sitting in a hunched position. This means your body is leaned forward while your head is hung over a laptop, phone screen, or book. This posture puts a lot of strain on your neck leading to neck pain.
Inadequate ergonomics
When working from home, optimizing for comfort is typical, which may mean working in your favorite bean bag or even from your bed. However, working with a setup that provides you with proper lumbar support to prevent neck pain is crucial.
This means sitting in a chair that offers adequate support and positioning your laptop, keyboard, monitor, and other devices in a way that doesn’t strain your neck.
How to prevent neck pain while working from home
The good news is that there are several ways to prevent neck pain. It begins with maintaining good posture as you work. Your shoulders should be relaxed, with your neck in a neutral position.
It’s also crucial to take frequent breaks away from your work setup. You can set a timer to remind you to stand up and stretch at 30- or 40-minute intervals.
Regular exercise can also help improve your posture and reduce tension in your neck and shoulders.
How can acupuncture help relieve your neck pain?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment involving the insertion of specialized fine needles into specific points of your body to promote healing.
Years of research show that it’s an effective treatment for several types of pain, including neck pain. One way acupuncture helps relieve pain is by reducing inflammation in muscles in your neck, which may be causing discomfort.
Acupuncture also stimulates blood flow to your neck muscles and the release of endorphins, also known as the body’s natural pain killer reducing pain and promoting healing.
While working from home can be convenient and flexible, it can also be a pain in the neck, literally. Neck pain can limit your productivity and quality of life if untreated. Fortunately, acupuncture can help reduce inflammation, stimulate blood flow, and release endorphins, all of which alleviate pain.
If you’ve not been responding to traditional medicine or are just looking for an alternative treatment for your neck pain, acupuncture is right for you. Book an appointment with us today at Acupuncture Health Services or call 732-898-2284. Let us ease your pain.