Why Do You Often Suffer Neck Pain When Sitting At Computers?

How do you conclude your workday? With a wide grin and cracking sound of the knuckles? That's rarely possible because the majority of the adults are burned out by the end of the workday, and the first instinct is to rotate the neck to get rid of that computer neck pain. But sadly enough, the neck pain sitting at a desk is too stubborn to go with a left to right rotation and an up and down posture change.

While you could be searching for the best neck and shoulder stretches to get rid of that neck pain when sitting, identifying the real reason and treating its root is the only reason you can move forward. There are many reasons you suffer from neck pain from computer work, and improper posture is one of those. But what causes an improper posture that leads to neck pain from computer use?

Only if we could identify the right button to push, don't worry. This article will cover some of the best reasons you suffer from computer neck pain and effective solutions to work without experiencing that soreness in neck muscles.

Reasons for Computer Neck Pain

Enough complaining about neck pain and blaming it all on workload. Well, some part of those files is causing your neck to hurt, but most of the time, it is an underlying issue that we tend to ignore. However, neck pain while working is common, and here are some reasons to check which could be the cause of pain in your neck.

Improper Posture

One of the most common reasons for neck and back pains in the workplace is improper posture. Adapting the wrong posture can cause your neck and shoulders to remain under extra pressure, so the muscles feel tired more often. This results in physical fatigue, causing your work energy level to drop substantially.

Wrong Desk Setup

Not everyone pays enough heed to desk setup because we associate all kinds of pain with the lack of a proper chair. But the truth is, a proper desk setup can bring wonders to your life. This is why standing desks are so common in today’s world of ergonomics.

If your workstation is too high, you may adjust by slightly shrugging your shoulders to raise your forearms, wrists, and hands to the proper level. However, your neck muscles will become fatigued and spasm after a time.

Monitor Level

If you are encountering back pain, it is probably because your neck is at a certain tilt level while working. While ergonomics is all about being in the most comfortable position, neck tilt to reach the screen level causes computer eye strain as well as the neck muscles.

Wrong Chair

Investing in just appearance seems okay when it is about clothes or anything else, but when it comes to a work chair, saving on an expensive chair can cost you a lot more than the amount saved. In addition, you will be taking trips to physiotherapists or chiropractors to identify the reason for that neck pain when the truth is you need to discard that chair. Wrong chairs lead to poor posture, which in turn give rise to neck and other physical issues.

Frequent Stretches

Stretches are good, but the wrong ones can tire your body in just a matter of a few hours. While working on a work desk, various reasons lead to pain in the neck and upper body. Keep your mouse close by and switch it from one side of your body to the other frequently. If you chat on the phone a lot, invest in a headset. Also, make a list of shortcut keys that you may use while typing. Finally, it is important to use a document holder, so you don't have to glance down often.

Solutions for Computer Neck Pain

Dealing with neck pain is the real bummer and kills most of your motivation for work. In addition, it will make your bending up and down hard and also increase frustration. Encountering neck pain might be a sad event in a work-life, but here are some effective solutions to deal with technology-borne neck pain.

Check Your Posture

You could have the perfect chair, but some of your habits might be the leading problem here. The need for proper posture in the workplace is substantially high because it can solve half of your musculoskeletal problems. Unfortunately, sitting for long periods may put a lot of strain on the neck, back, and shoulders.

The muscles surrounding your spine and shoulder girdle become stiff or guarded when you start to feel sore. These muscles tire and grow more uncomfortable as you continue to operate in the same position. As a result, you may have considerable neck and upper back discomfort, as well as muscular guarding.

Regular Breaks

If you have to sit for work, try to keep it to 20-30 minutes at a time and take breaks to move about or stretch to prevent computer neck pain. Make sure you're seated in a chair that can adequately support your body. Some office chairs have a lot of adjustabilities and can fit a wide range of body shapes.

The Right Chair

It is foremost the effective solution to treat neck pain for people suffering from various neck issues. So yes, you need an ergonomic chair with neck support. The right ergonomic office chair provides adjustability catering to each user, covers the need to get spinal support through active lumbar, and the best ones? Well, they have fine support for your neck. This, in turn, provides a safe resting place for your neck, so it isn't subjected to unnecessary computer neck pain or trauma.

Recline Chair

Recline in the chair means you can adjust the seat tilt according to your comfort. Such ergonomic chairs with reclining positions are specifically made for people who have to work for hours at a time. This means the user can adjust to different levels of comfort and then work accordingly. Recline is a feature of ergonomic chairs, and it is one of the most beneficial solutions for people suffering from neck issues. 

Monitor Arm

Investing in a monitor arm is the right approach to deal with this issue. Monitor arms are height adjustable so that you can elevate or lower the monitor height depending on your safe eye level.