Canadians spend more time than ever before on a computer, tablet or smart phone. With the rise of screen time, more and more people come into our Vancouver clinic with neck and shoulder pain. Our Chiropractorand Registered Massage Therapists are noticing that the large amount of screen time many people engage in negatively affects posture. A Harvard School of Public Health study showed that holding a tablet too low in your lap can put the cervical vertebrae and the neck muscles in unnatural positions, straining muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments and spinal discs.
How do you limit the damage caused by screen time?
To avoid many aches and pains, our practitioners recommend that you cut back on your screen time. We know that is easier said than done, so we have provided you with some simple ergonomic tips to help you ease your pain!
General Tips
Be aware of your posture
Pull your shoulders back
Keep your head straight
Don’t cross your legs
Take a break every 15 minutes
Switch hands when holding your tablet or smart phone
Stand up and stretch your neck and back muscles
Laptop or Desktop Computer Use
Make sure your chair has good lumbar support (a simple fix is placing a pillow against the small of your back)
The top of your computer monitor should be at eye level
Your elbows should be close to your body
Your hands, wrists, forearms and thighs should be parallel to the floor
Handheld Phone
Use a hands free headset instead of placing your phone between your head and shoulder
Tablet or E-Reader
The top of your device should be just below eye level
If you continue to experience neck and back pain, our Commercial Drive Chiropractor can provide you with a postural and spinal assessment. Treatment programs will include spinal joint mobilizations, stretches, exercises and postural tips to avoid neck and back pain in the future. We also offer Registered Massage Therapy for acute and chronic pain relief.
Call or email our office to book an appointment. Get your spine aligned for optimal musculoskeletal function!
