Are you tired of sticking your neck out?

You might like Tortoises in the desert, but we don’t want you to look like one!

Text Neck Syndrome is an ever increasing problem today. Most of us suffer from this uncomfortable condition to some degree. Todays fast paced life and demands on our time drive us to become more efficient in communication with those important to us. Did you know the average head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds? Our spine neck and muscles are designed to balance this important part of our anatomy at the very top of our body as the master controller of our every move.

This is why our neck is meant to act as an amazing spring in suspending our head over everything we do. The repetitive body position of looking down at our phone, tablet or computer device results in an upper body posture that extends the neck forward as in the above illustration. The further our head and neck is extended forward and focused downward, the more our head will effectively weigh placing an unnatural strain on our neck, shoulders and spinal column as a whole.

Signs and Symptoms of Text Neck

• Instant upper back or neck pain when using a handheld device.
• Nagging or sharp pain in the neck or shoulders at the end of the day.
• General shoulder pain and tightness.
• Intermittent or constant headache made worse when looking down or using the computer.
• Leads to posture problems and related health issues.

What can you do about it?

Get off your feet- Lay down

• Lie flat on back on floor or firm surface
• Place a rolled (FIRM!) towel under neck to allow neck to fall back into extension (chin up).
• Bend knees and place hands at the side of body.

Now that I have your attention- Let me share the following tips

How do I sit properly?

• Keep your feet on the floor or on a footrest, if they don’t reach the floor.
• Don’t cross your legs. Your ankles should be in front of your knees.
• Leave small gap between the back of your knees and the front of your seat.
• Your knees and hips at a 90º angles.
• Adjust the backrest of your chair to support your low- and mid-back or use a back support.
• Relax your shoulders and keep your forearms parallel to the ground.

Avoid sitting in the same position for long periods of time.

How do I stand properly?

• Bear your weight primarily on the balls of your feet.
• Keep your knees slightly bent.
• Keep your feet about shoulder-width apart.
• Stand straight and tall with your shoulders pulled backward.
• Keep your head level-your earlobes should be in line with your shoulders. Do not push your head forward, backward, or to the side.
• Shift your weight from your toes to your heels, or one foot to the other, if you have to stand for a long time.

What is the proper lying position?

• Find the mattress that is right for you. While a firm mattress is generally recommended, some people find that softer mattresses reduce their back pain. Your comfort is important. (Pillow Top/Pad)
• Sleep with a pillow. Special pillows are available to help with postural problems resulting from a poor sleeping position.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
• Sleeping on your side or back is more often helpful for back pain. If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your legs. If you sleep on your back, keep a pillow under your knees.

Standing and Texting

1. Stand tall and roll your shoulders back and down.
2. Place your left hand on your right rib cage. Place your right elbow on top of your left hand to support your right arm.
3. Use the right hand to view your phone and swipe with your thumb.
4. Switch sides often to avoid overuse/fatigue.
5. To type in this position, place your elbows on the bottom of ribs so you can hold the phone with both hands.

Desk work and Texting

1. Sit tall in your desk chair and place your elbows on your desk.
2. Hold your phone at eye level.
3. Keep your shoulders back and down.

Sitting and Texting

1. Move to the front of your chair or whatever you are sitting on and lean forward with a flat back. Place your elbows on top of your knees.
2. Hold your phone at eye level.
3. Keep your shoulders back and down.

Floor Sitting and Texting

1. Push your butt up against a wall or headboard behind you. Bend your knees in front of you and place your elbows on top of your knees.
2. Hold your phone at eye level.
3. Keep your shoulders back and down.

Is Posture Bringing You Down?

Posture is the position in which we hold our bodies while standing, sitting, or lying down. Good posture is the correct alignment of body parts supported by the right amount of muscle tension against gravity. Without posture and the muscles that control it, we would simply fall to the ground.

Good posture has many benefits for our bodies overall structure. It helps us keep bones and joints in correct alignment and allows the reduction of stress on the body minimizing the likelihood of injury.  The muscles have the ability to work more efficiently reducing fatigue and using less energy when we have a good posture.  Also, protects against muscle strain, overuse disorders and even back and muscular pain.

Several factors contribute to poor posture–most commonly, stress, obesity, pregnancy, weak postural muscles, abnormally tight muscles, and high-heeled shoes.  In addition, decreased flexibility, a poor work environment, incorrect working posture, and unhealthy sitting and standing habits can also contribute to poor body positioning.

Symptoms of poor posture

The most common symptoms of poor posture are the following:

1. Neck Pain
2. Headaches/Migraines
3. Shoulder/Upper Back Pain
4. Arm/Hand Numbness and Tingling
5. Jaw Pain (TMJD)
6. Back Pain
7. Muscle Fatigue/Stress
8. Body Aches and Pain (Joint and Muscle)
9. Spinal Degeneration/Disc Disease

What is Whiplash?

Whiplash, also called neck sprain or neck strain, is an injury to the neck. Whiplash is a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck. In whiplash, the intervertebral joints (located between neck bones), discs, and ligaments, cervical muscles, and nerve roots may become damaged.

What Causes Whiplash?

Whiplash is caused by an abrupt backward and/or forward jerking motion of the head, often as a result of a car accident.

Your symptoms following an accident may be delayed for 24 hours or more after the initial trauma. Some people who experience whiplash may develop one or more of the following symptoms, usually within the first few days after the injury:

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Headaches
• Pain in the shoulder or between the shoulder blades
• Low back pain
• Pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand
• Dizziness
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering
• Irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue

Correctly Diagnosing Whiplash

In most cases, injuries are to the soft tissues such as the discs, muscles and ligaments, and cannot be seen on standard X-rays. Specialized imaging tests, such as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may be required to diagnose whiplash.

Treatment

Even if you are not in pain following an accident, it is important to receive prompt attention to your injury, as the structural balance of your neck and spine is important to your health. We can assist in the assessment of your injury and your recovery by correctly adjusting your neck and/or spine so it has the correct position to heal. In addition, we can recommend physical therapy, non-surgical spinal decompression,  stretching and strengthening exercises, and natural anti-inflammatories to put you back on the road to good health.

If you’re reading this, chances are that you or someone you know suffers from  migraine headaches. Take comfort in knowing that you’re not alone!  Migraines affect more than 38 million Americans each year.

There are multiple types of migraines. With a common migraine, (which is about 80% of migraine headaches) there isn’t an aura (or a visual disturbance) before the migraine comes on. A person suffering from a classic migraine experiences an aura (the warning sign) before the migraine comes on. Classic migraines are usually much more severe.

Common Migraine Symptoms

Common symptoms of a classic migraine headache include visual changes, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, throbbing pain often limited to one side of the head and many others. This often leads to one wanting to hide in a quiet dark room until the throbbing pain lessens.

Migraines can cause you to miss work, miss time with your family and friends and get in the way of living your life and doing the things you love to do. These are memories that we can not get back, once they have passed.   What kind of quality of life do you have if you are unable to do the things you love to do?

Why do I get Migraine Headaches?

A big question that many sufferers ask, why do I get migraine headaches. Most people don’t know why they get migraine headaches but there are various reasons. For some people, it may be due to something they eat; such as chocolate, MSG or even certain types of alcohol.   Some people are just sensitive to different scents; whether flowery, woodsy, or just straight perfumey.

Then you have those that think “well, I am going to just skip breakfast,” which can lead to a late morning migraine, commonly around 10:30 am. Is this migraine headache just due to starving the body, dehydration, and/or low blood sugars? Would the easy solution be to just grab a little breakfast to prevent this nagging migraine?

If someone is experiencing higher than normal stress, this can lead to a migraine headache. Whether the stress is emotional, financial or work related, stress can hinder the body in many ways. One being, migraine headaches tighten and tense the muscles in the body, causing an inability to sleep.

Most people take some sort of pain reliever or powerful prescription drug specific for migraine headaches. This prescription drug for migraines typically knocks you out for a few hours to get rid of the headache. When you wake up, it may be hanging on just a little bit, or it could be completely gone. Some of you miss work or miss your child’s school functions until the migraine starts to pass. Some of you seek out alternative therapies like massage, chiropractic and acupuncture.

Migraine Treatment with Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care has helped many people have fewer migraines and sometimes even eliminate migraines all together. Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care is a type of treatment which involves realigning the top of the neck and head to its normal position increasing communication within the nervous system. This requires no popping or twisting to the neck or back.

The head and neck go off the center of gravity or out of whack usually because of accidents, falls, injuries and normal wear and tear. Some of the injuries are simple bumps on the head, sports injuries, car accidents. When this happens, many people report pain or tension in the neck that lead to migraine headaches

No More Migraine Headaches!

Many of our patients say things like, “no more migraines” or “I haven’t missed a day of work because of migraines all year” and “I can’t remember the last time I felt this good”.

For you; does it feel like your migraines have been there all your life or should we say FOREVER! Fortunately, there are many ways to treat both the symptoms and the underlying causes. NUCCA Chiropractic care can help these symptoms relating to neck pain and stiffness. Keep in mind, chiropractic targets the cause of the pain and helps in turning the system back on for optimal function as a whole at the same time bringing the body back to the center of gravity.

If you would like help with migraine headaches, please call to schedule a new patient appointment at (702) 433-8333.

Know someone that could use our help? Please Pass it on….

Most people experience back pain once or twice in their lifetime. Nearly 65 million Americans report a recent flare up of back pain. Approximately, 10 percent of all adults — experience persistent back pain, and as a result are limited in certain everyday activities such as simple things like doing laundry or washing dishes. For some, a simple walk around the block is a dream due to the terrible back pain. Back pain is the sixth most costly condition in the United States.

What causes persistent back pain?

Repeated heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement may strain back muscles and spinal ligaments. If you’re in poor physical condition, constant strain on your back may cause painful muscle spasms, bulging or herniated discs. The discs between each vertebra act as cushions between the bones (vertebrae) in your spine. Over time, the discs can flatten and thin out leaving the area more weak. As the vulnerability continues, something as simple as bending forward or brushing your teeth can throw your back out. Leaving you on your back for days and days at a time. The first couple times you throw your back out, it might go away all on its own.

Six months later, you lift a heavy box, you drop to your knees, your back just went out. You are stuck! HELP NOW! Small movements or twisting can create burning or stabbing pain, or pain that moves down your legs.

Commonly we are asked will the pain ever go away?

The short answer, yes, the pain can go away. We must keep in mind how long the pain has been there. It hasn’t just been just 2 days because you have had this pain before but it was not treated it just went away (or so you thought). Here is what really happened, you rested and stayed off your feet and the pain went away but the body is still in a weak position.

Many patients are told they must have injections, nerve ablation, pain medicine for the rest of their life, and even surgery before they have tried proven non invasive measures. Most patients have tried 2-3 things before they even meet us.

With Non- Surgical Spinal Decompression and NUCCA, we do not force the misalignment back into place with popping or harsh twisting. Instead, we work with the body’s own neurology.

Before you risk damaging your stomach with daily NSAID’s, getting addicted to opioids, or having a major surgery, give Spine Wellness Center a call at (702) 433-8333. We have helped so many people who were close to giving up hope. There is a better way to fix low back pain.

We listen. We care. We get results.

Does neck pain slow you down? Are you missing out on work due to neck pain? Do you need effective neck pain treatment?  Let me tell you, you do not have to live with neck pain!

Are there times that you hurt so bad, that it just seems easier to stay home in bed? Does it feel like this pain will never go away? What if I said there is a way that you can receive effective neck pain treatment?

Many people suffer from neck pain every day, so many people will write off neck pain to “well it’s all part of getting older.” Or, “it’s just how it is,” or “well I have arthritis I have to live with it.” What if I told you, “you don’t!”

How did I get this neck pain?

You might know exactly how your neck pain started. Neck pain can be caused from a variety of situations.   Accidents and injuries can cause herniated discs and pinched nerves. If a person sits at a desk all day on a computer, the body can become stiff and fatigued. With fatigue of the body, a person will tend to slouch more rolling shoulders more forward, leading to anterior head carriage. As the body gets comfortable in the slouch position it becomes our normal position and becomes challenging to sit up straight. Bad body mechanics, repetitive motions and doing exercises incorrectly are all things that can injure the neck area,creating the neck pain that many people are experiencing every day!

How do the muscles and vertebrae aid in stabilizing the neck?

The top two neck bones in the neck help us look behind us. The lower five neck bones will aid in looking up and down and tilting from side to side. Let us not forget about the work the muscles and tendons do. They are responsible for the movements, and they are also the stabilizers of the neck. If the muscles are not receiving enough blood and oxygen flow, the muscles will tend to be tight and stiff, have a throbbing sensation, or even muscle cramping which will lead to neck pain!

Can NUCCA and Spinal Decompression Care Help My Neck Pain?

With NUCCA chiropractic care, we can help the body to start the alignment process to reduce the neck pain and stiffness. With Drugless Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, we help the disc space and herniations that are in the neck. Keep in mind, it takes more than just one neck pain treatment to correct the problem. It takes time and consistent care to correct the underlying issue and to get the body on the healing path.

Neck Pain Relief through Chiropractic Care

For you, does it feel like your neck pain has been there all your life or should we say “FOREVER?” Fortunately, there are many ways to treat both the symptoms and the underlying causes. NUCCA Chiropractic care and Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression can help these symptoms relating to neck pain and stiffness. Keep in mind, we target the cause of the pain, and this helps your neck get back in place and gets you on track for optimal function as a whole.

If you would like help with neck pain, call to schedule a new patient appointment at (702) 433-8333.

How Spine Wellness Center is handling COVID-19

In challenging times such as these, we would like to inform you of our efforts to keep our community safe and well.  Your health is and always will be our #1 priority. With the seriousness of COVID-19, we want to share with you the following precautions we take to maintain a clean environment for health and stopping the spread of disease:

-Sanitizing our tables after each patient

-Sanitizing frequently touched objects, such as door handles, armchairs, spine-masters, etc.

-Our entire team is washing our hands with soap and hot water and using hand sanitizer

-To limit how many people are in our office at one time, we are limiting our patient scheduling to 60% of normal capacity, drastically decreasing or eliminating waiting room times

-Eliminating blankets in the relaxation room; please bring a coat or covering if you feel cold in our office frequently

Please inform us immediately if you have:

• Flu-like symptoms
• Recently traveled to a foreign country
• Recently been hospitalized.

You may be asked to postpone your adjustment in the instances above.

Please call the office at (702) 433-8333 to schedule your appointment as spots are limited.  We will do our best to see you at your preferred time.

We are committed to the well-being of our patients.  We believe the health of our community begins with healthy individuals.  We will continue to take necessary precautions, and follow local, national, and CDC safety guidelines.  We also encourage our patients to maintain a proactive approach and to take positive action towards maintaining their health.

To prevent  the spread of COVID-19, remember to:

-Wash your hands with soap and hot water for 20 seconds

-Avoid touching your face, especially eyes & nose

-Cover your cough and sneezes

-Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others

-Get plenty of sleep

-Eat a balanced diet

For further information specifically related to Nevada, refer to this website:  https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/information-for/

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at (702)433-8333 or Dr. Johnson or Dr. Strickland at frontdesk@spinewellnesscenter.com