Most people will experience pack and neck pain at some point in their lives. Such pain can interfere with daily activities and ultimately lower one’s quality of life. In fact, back pain is the leading cause of disability and one of the most common reasons for missed work, according to the American Chiropractic Association. If you’re experiencing uncomfortable back and neck pain, the culprit could be a few unhealthy habits that you’ve developed over the years. The first step to breaking a bad habit is to recognize it exists. As such, we’ve composed a list of habits that can result in back and neck pain to help you on your journey to a more pain-free life.
Sitting for prolonged periods of time
One of the many negative health effects of spending too much time sitting is back and neck pain. Many people spend the majority of their days sitting, whether at a desk at work or in a car during their commutes. Unfortunately, spending so much time sitting down ultimately places a large amount of pressure on the back and neck. Over time, such stress can result in the compression of the disks in one’s spine, which may lead to chronic pain. To avoid such pain and to minimize the negative effects of sitting, consider investing in a standing desk or an ergonomic chair.
Not exercising regularly or exercising incorrectly
Another bad habit that can result in back and neck pain is not exercising regularly. Exercise is important to strengthen your abdominals and other core muscles. If you don’t exercise regularly, your back and abdominal muscles can become weak, which will make it harder for them to properly support your spine and keep it in proper alignment, ultimately resulting in pain and discomfort.
In addition to not exercising enough, exercising with poor form can also have a negative effect on the health of your back and neck. If you’re lifting weights, make sure to lift with your legs, not your back. In addition, you should keep your back straight to avoid accidentally pulling a muscle.
Sleeping on your stomach
Sleeping on one’s stomach can also result in back and neck pain. When you sleep on your stomach, your neck is twisted to the side, which puts your spine out of alignment. When you spend several hours every single night in this misaligned position, you’ll likely start to experience pain and discomfort. Ideally, people should aim to sleep flat on their backs, as doing so allows them to maintain a neutral spine. This is widely considered the healthiest position for one’s back and neck. It can be challenging to change your sleeping position, but trying to transition to a healthier sleeping situation could work wonders for alleviating your neck and back pain.
