After a long day of work, returning home with pain and throbbing sensations on your head is an undesirable situation for many. Everyone believes that the reason behind their headaches at the end of the day is due to circumstances which are out of their control; work, bills, etc. But, as a matter of fact, while these difficult situations may be partially responsible for your muscle tension, these may actually not be the reason behind your headaches. From the way you sit at work and the way you hold your phone to the way you type on your computer, among other things, improper posture greatly contributes to headaches.
Table of Contents
Β
There are a wide variety of factors which can cause headaches. The most common reason for headaches, especially tension headaches, is muscle tension and tightness. The frequent tightness which occurs during a headache can be experienced all over the head and neck, feeling almost as though there is a rubber band around the head, according to reports of many individuals. The tension and tightening of the muscles is largely due to poor posture where the muscles are trying to adapt to the constraints which are being placed on them. Poor posture over time leads to shortening of the muscles and irritation of the structures surrounding the spine, particularly the spinal discs. Itβs this specific shortening of the tissues that causes the rubber band feeling on the head, or tension headaches. Most often, this form of pain and discomfort is felt at the base of the skull. The longer the individual sits in an improper position, the longer the tension and tightness of the muscles will last and worsen, causing longer lasting and worse headaches.
The difficulty with improper postures is that they are mostly involuntary in their movements. If you are an individual who stresses frequently, itβs not uncommon for the shoulders to rise up to their ears. The person may not even realize theyβre practicing this posture until they take a deep breath and relax, an action many take longer to realize. The shoulders may have been up for a majority of the day, meaning the muscles were being overworked in an inappropriate position, and chances are the individual wonβt correct their posture until the headache has started.
When working an office job, there are many culprits which can often cause improper postures. One regular activity which causes the shoulders to rise is talking on the phone, whether itβs through a cell phone or a desk phone. Other individuals just outright hold the phone with their shoulders. This action can cause an even stronger contraction, leading to more intense pain. In other situations, desk height and monitor height may also contribute to an individualβs pain and discomfort. A desk that is too high often forces the individual to raise their arms up, therefore causing shoulder elevation. A monitor which is set too low, together with sitting in an unsupportive chair, promotes forward head posture. Even carrying large bags causes the body to slump forward. Making sure that your desk is set up correctly can help decrease your risk of developing this type of tension headaches.
Muscles need blood flow in order for them to function properly and not experience tension and tightness. Simply standing at your desk for even a minute can allow blood flow to increase which may save you from feeling head pain. One method you can use to remember to give yourself time to stretch and correct your posture is to set up a timer on your phone or computer. For every 15 or 30 minutes the timer goes off, the individual should correct the posture of their shoulders if they are being held up to their ears and if they are slumping on their chair. Ultimately, every time the alarm goes off, individuals should use this as a healthy reminder to stand up and allow the muscles to reset.
Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.elpasochiropractorblog.com
After a long day of work, returning home with head painΒ is an undesirable situation for many. People believeΒ that the reason behind their headaches at the end of the day is due to circumstances which are out of their control; work, bills, etc. But, as a matter of fact, from the way people sit at work and the way they hold their phone to the way people type on their computer, improper posture can greatly contributes to headaches. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
By Dr. Alex Jimenez
Chiropractic: A Safer Strategy Than Opioids
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Tension Headaches Caused by Improper Postures" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, acupuncture, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card
For individuals trying to retrain their body movements for back health improvement, what is the… Read More
Can individuals with body pain incorporate Pilates to reduce general aches and pains while strengthening… Read More
Sleep is vital at all ages, but what is the amount of sleep for older… Read More
Can individuals dealing with joint pain incorporate turmeric as part of their treatment to reduce… Read More
Individuals who have been injured or ill or have a chronic disability may be having… Read More
Can individuals incorporate ways to increase their vitamin C levels to boost their immune system… Read More