Spinal Health Week – Sore Neck? Consider a Chiro!

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Spinal Health Week 2022: a timely opportunity for Australians to check on their neck and spinal health to ensure a healthy and active lifestyle.

This Spinal Health Week (23rd-29th May 2022) the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) is encouraging all Australians to address their neck health and seek professional help if needed.

Research shows that musculoskeletal conditions have the fourth greatest impact on the health of the world’s population, with neck pain being a leading cause of disability in adults (reported up to 20% of adults), often requiring a professional assessment1. Being a long-term condition, a sore or stiff neck isn’t only a serious physical issue impacting your quality of life, but it can also affect your ability to participate in self-care, work and social activities2.

At Wynyard Chiropractic, we explain to our patients that every position your body is in can have an impact on your spinal health. Whether you’re sitting, standing, lifting, or sleeping, it’s important to think about your spine. It’s very common to go about your day and not pay attention to some of the activities that may be having a detrimental effect on your neck, and it doesn’t just stop at neck pain. Neck problems are a common trigger for headaches. They can also cause jaw problems, shoulder pain, and weakness or numbness into the arms and hands.

As Chiropractors, we want YOU to safeguard your quality of life and overall wellbeing, by taking the time to assess your spinal health and address any neck aches or pains you may be feeling. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us!!

Implementing positive spinal health habits should be easy, but we need to take action and do it!

This can include:

  • Good posture
  • Sleep hygiene
  • Partaking in regular stretching and exercise regimes
  • Taking regular breaks from devices
  • Improving water intake

There are many things that can be easily incorporated into your day-to-day routine that don’t take much time, but can dramatically improve your neck and spinal health3.

Our top three tips for improving neck health are:

  1. Take regular breaks from devices – it’s nearly impossible to maintain perfect posture all day long. The best thing you can do is take a break from the screen every 30 minutes, look around the room, move around if you can and then get back to it!
  2. LAPTOPS ARE NOT FOR LAPS!! Any laptop, computer or device should be at your eye level – bring those screens up and stop collapsing into your lap!
  3. Think about your posture: Where’s my head? Where’s my chest? Where’s my belly? Draw an imaginary zipper from your belly upwards, lifting the belly and the chest, and allow your head to float on top “like a cherry on a cake”!

If you are concerned about your neck health, especially following the last two years of working from home and disrupted routines, consider visiting your local ACA chiropractor to help you live your healthiest, most fulfilling life!

Interested to know more? Why not call us on 02 9235 2464 to find out how we can help you!! Or BOOK ONLINE!

References:

  1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/back-problems/contents/what-are-back-problems. Accessed March 2022
  2. The association between prevalent neck pain and health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional analysis, Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2899412/. Accessed March 2022
  3. Text Neck Treatment and Prevention. Available at https://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/text-neck-treatment-and-prevention. Accessed March 2022