PC POSTURE 2

Previously we discussed PC posture. Today, I will give you some other factors which can contribute to your pain AND can be treated.

• Check your posture in a mirror. Is one shoulder higher than the other?
• Are you leaning forward? ie. do you have a forward head posture, or lean into your computer screen
• Do you sleep with your arm over your head? This position can compress your brachial artery, resulting in a tingling sensation in your fingertips
• Do you sleep on your stomach? This position increases neck strain because you need to turn your head to breathe
• For Men –do you keep your wallet in your back pocket? This puts pressure on your gluteal musches and low back
• For Women –is the weight of your purse a culprit? Is it heavy enough to pull your shoulders down
• Laptop size, is your keyboard too small? A smaller keypad tends to compress your shoulders together

We are all guilty of having bad posture (including me!), and I find that when I’m fatigued I also tend to slouch putting even more pressure on my neck and shoulders. I’m also aware when my shoulders get sore, that it’s time to act NOW!

To provide some temporary relief, try these exercises:

1. Take a deep breath and exhale. You will now assume a start point
2. Roll your shoulders back into a neutral position
3. Look into the distance instead of onto a screen (laptop, phone etc) and take breaks
4. Slide your head back, so your ears should line up with your shoulders
5. Do ROM neck exercises without rolling your neck backwards

If you want to test yourself, stand with your heels against the wall. Your low back, shoulder blades and head should touch the wall. Now you know what your starting point is.

Treating this area is relatively simple once we find what the cause is, and then we can find the best treatment to prevent a re-occurrence.