The tenuous relationship between your device and your spine

The computer may be a tool of information efficiency but it is certainly not a friend to your spine. While we debate the merits of the information age from a mental health perspective, it is important to not lose sight of what your devices are doing to your spine. Chances are, if you‘ve worked in an office setting, you are familiar with the back pain and neck stiffness that is so ubiquitous in the white collar world. These symptoms, while annoying and uncomfortable in the here and now, are also signs of things to come, namely: spinal degeneration. 

Amongst all the social media notifications and e-mails, pain should be the top priority.

Signs that your computer is causing harm to your spine are not always easy to spot, especially when you practice a subconscious policy of ignoring pain signals. Risk factors for spinal health in the office include:

• Ergonomics: the way you work determines how you feel after work. If your office chair doesn’t support good posture, everything becomes more difficult. Every piece of office equipment matters- from the chair to the desk and keyboard, everything should be adjusted and optimized according to your specific body. 
• Posture: following on from ergonomics, posture is key to preventing spinal degeneration in an office setting. Working on computers forces us to compromise our postural integrity unless we are proactive. 
• Inactivity: being sedentary is one of the worst things you can do to your spine. Even 30 minutes of sitting and typing contributes to tightness throughout the soft supportive tissues of the spine. It is important to move and change your position as frequently as possible. 

Preventing spinal injuries and degeneration from computer use in Fremont

At Scorca Chiropractic Center, we help you take action to prevent your job, or your computer, from taking an irreversible toll on your spine. Our natural modalities can be adapted to account for the particular risk factors inherent in white collar work. If you want to ensure that your job is not contributing to spinal degeneration, give our office in Fremont a call to schedule an appointment today.