Neck Pain Support Blog

Another Cause of Neck Pain: Use of your Apple Ipad

The Apple Ipad has come to be known for many things: Innovation, Easability of use, Great for Kids to keep themselves busy while mom is cooking, reading the newspaper  and best of all, easy to move around with - but here's a new one: Neck Pain and Shoulder Discomfort.

This  recent news comes from the Harvard School of Public Health,which conducted the study. The study stated that users of a tablet computer such as ipad or a motorola zoom (these two tablet computers were used in the study) may be more likely to experience neck and shoulder pain after prolonged use. 

In the study, there were four configurations of using a tablet computer that were tested:

• holding the tablet in one’s hand while on the lap
• holding the tablet in a case on the lap
• holding the tablet in a case on a table
• tablet held upright on a table for the purpose of watching a film.

The tablets were outfitted with various cases and stands that users are generally seen using in everyday situations.

The study found that users of tablet computers in all four position configurations run a higher risk of “neck and shoulder discomfort” compared to normal desktop or laptop users. 

Why Does a Tablet user experience more pain than a regular desktop/laptop user? This stems mostly from poor posture users exhibit when using tablet computers since their posture and head/neck angles are much more strained. In particular, the head and neck are required to flexion more forward when using a tablet computer

Can neck pain and shoulder pain be reduced when using a tablet computer? Yes, neck pain and shoulder pain can be reduced in two ways:

1. Placing the tablet computer higher to avoid a low gaze angle (ie. place the computer on a table, rather than using it on your lap)
2. Use a case that provides optimal viewing angles

Personally, I am all about new technology- but i have yet to purchase a tablet computer. I simply love my desktop and my laptop. All my friends seem to own one and love it. I doubt that this study will keep them from using their tablet computers.

Source: Touch Screen Tablet User Configurations and Case Reported Head Tilt affect head and neck flexion angles, November 2011

Additional Reading Resources

• "I wake up with sore and stiff shoulders everyday"
• Neck Pain and Eye Pain from using the Computer: The CVS Syndrome
• Pillows for Neck Pain: Better Neck Posture and Better Sleep
• How to Treat a Stiff Neck
• Neck Exercises to relieve neck stiffness and discomfort

Your Pillow May not be Right for YOU

Are you having trouble sleeping at night? Do you wake up with a stiff neck or a headache? Do you find yourself turning, switching sides, and constantly changing positions just to get comfortable? Well one aspect to look at is the current pillow that you are sleeping with. Here are some factors to consider when deciding if the pillow that you are using is right for you:

• Your pillow is not the right size for you. If you are a petite person, then you should not be using a king size pillow. Believe me, this happens more than you think. The pillow you sleep with can be different than the pillow that looks great on your bed spread. Choosing the right size of pillow is important because you may be pushing your head too forward if its not the right size. Vice versa, if the pillow is not big enough for you, then you will also not be comfortable and not get the proper support that you need to during sleep. Consider your height and your weight when deciding what pillow is right for you. Also, look to see how your head lies while sleeping on the pillow. If the pillow is too big for you, your head will be flexed forward causing a stiff neck the next morning. 
• Your pillow is too flat. This happens overtime with a lot of pillows. Knowing when to replace a pillow is very important. A flat pillow is not going give you the support that you need in your cervical spine. Imagine taking a towel roll and putting it under your neck when you are sleeping. This allows you to have the proper cervical curve when you are sleeping: on your side or on your back. Dr. Bellinger shows you how to use a towel roll for a neck pillow in the video below.
  
  At the Neck Pain Relief Shop, we have pillows that have an effective  neck roll for sleeping: these pillows are called the Arc4life Linear Gravity Neck Pillows. They each have two neck rolls on them, one firmer, one softer. You can choose which neck roll is most comfortable for you.  
• The neck pillow you are using is too soft or too firm. This is once complaint I hear too many times. When you get a pillow, there should be some "Give" to the pillow. Really its personal preference. Some people like a lot of give, some people like a pillow to be very firm. However, it should not be rock hard solid that it is uncomfortable,and you won't be have to have a restful sleep. Be careful of feather pillows too. If you do like a firmer neck pillow, consider the tri core family of neck pillows. They come in all sizes, and the density of the pillow makes it a firmer neck pillow. 
• The neck pillow does not allow you to change positions while sleeping. You might be only a side sleeper or only a back sleeper. Because of a specific health condition you might be a certain type of sleeper as well. Your neck pillow should accomodate this. Believe it or not there are particular pillows made just for side sleepers. Here is an example: SideRight Side Sleep pillow. It actually has a cut out for your where your head should lie. Other pillows like the linear gravity pillow allow for side and back sleeping
• Your pillow is causing you to sweat too much during sleep. You may have to change the type of pillow you are sleeping on. Maybe the foam pillow you are using is making the back of your neck too hot. Choose a pillow that stays cool while you sleep. An example of this is the Bioposture Memory foam neck pillow

As you can see, even when it comes to neck pillows there are lots of choices out there. Getting the right neck pillow can make for better sleep, and better posture. 

Additional Reading Resources:

• The Cervical Traction Neck Pillow is Fantastic. I want to get one for my Son, but is it too big?
• I wake up with stiff and sore shoulders everyday
• How to reduce the chances of getting a stiff neck
• Neck Pillows
• Herniated Disc in the NECK

 

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Getting Rid of the Headache After Bringing in the New Year

Another Year is upon us...and if you partied hard on New Years Eve you may have awoken with a major headache. Good thing that January 1st 2012 fell on a Sunday. Most people had the day off today, so it still felt like a holiday. Hopefully enough time to get over the headache you are feeling. 

Some people suffer from migraine or tension headaches on a regular basis- that is one thing. But what about the headache after a night of too much alcohol consumption? You want it to be over with asap. 

What makes a hangover headache so uncomfortable?  You feel the the discomfort and pain of a hangover headache  the morning after because alcohol causes the blood vessels to swell or dilate which, in turn, triggers headache pain and may cause slight sweating. In addition, the alcohol also acts as a diuretic, which leads to dehydration. 

The National headache foundation has some tips for easing the pain of a "hangover headache"...

* Have a glass of tomato juice. It's ingredients include fructose and it helps the body process alcohol faster.
* Consume fluids and foods that contain minerals and salts. Liquids rich in minerals and salts such as bouillon offer relief from the dehydration caused by alcohol consumption.
* Drink sports drinks to replenish your body's fluids. For example: Gatorade.
* Get the Coffee Machine going as soon as you get out of bed. Caffeine may provide some relief in alleviating the headache symptoms and decreasing the duration of pain. Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor and eases the dilated blood vessels.
* Take ibuprofen: it is gentler on the stomach than aspirin and provides pain relief. At the neck pain support blog this is not our first solution, but it can help ease the pain of a hangover headache. 

Source: The National Headache Foundation

Additional Reading Resources:

• Neck Posture
• More Headache Remedies
• Bringing to Light the Pain of a Migraine Headache
• The Right Pillow for Headaches
• Your Body Also Knows When It needs Aligning