With the COVID-19 pandemic taking the world by storm, Australian’s screen time is up by 44% leaving Sydney chiropractors tending to an influx of laptop syndrome. Laptop Syndrome is used to describe the repercussions of hunching or slouching over a screen or laptop resulting in damage to the neck, back or spine.
Because many workplaces have implemented working from home strategies, this has increased employee’s hours spent sitting slouched over a laptop and slipping out of ergonomic friendly work environments. When spending extensive time slouched over a laptop, our shoulders, neck and upper back are significantly impacted.
Conversations about back and neck pain have become almost a colloquialism in the last 20 years. So, if you spend a lot of time looking over a laptop or sitting at a computer here are the things you need to know about avoiding laptop syndrome.
Why do I have shoulder and neck pain from after looking at my laptop?
The muscles in your neck are naturally intended to hold your head in an upright comfortable position. When your head is pushed forward looking down into a screen, the muscles in your neck can become strained. Pain in the neck and back can be caused if you are sitting in the position for periods of time and can result in more severe injuries in the future if not corrected.
What should I be doing to avoid Laptop Syndrome?
While often it can be hard to break recurrent habits, there are some healthy tips you can implement when using your laptop to create an ergonomic work environment.
- Don’t use your laptop on your lap: Make sure you are sitting upright on a chair with good back support and your feet firmly placed on the ground.
- Keep your posture in front of mind: Be mindful of relaxing your shoulders. Check in with your posture every 15 to 30 minutes to make sure you are not rolling your shoulders forward into your computer screen.
- Use a laptop raiser or standing desk: Make sure your screen is at eye level and you are not tilting your head down. This may help reduce the strain on your neck muscles.
- Stand up for short intervals: Make sure to take regular breaks away from the screen. Sitting in a single position for hours on end can put a negative strain on muscles. It is helpful for you to take regular standing breaks to increase blood flow and relieve your muscles.
These suggestions do not guarantee to heal neck, back or shoulder pain; However, implementing these tips may help prevent more serious injuries in future and are good practice for correcting poor posture. If you are experiencing back pain or neck pain it may be best to seek medical advice from your licensed chiropractor.
If you’re looking for a trusted and experienced chiropractor in the Northern Beaches, contact the professionals at Impulse Chiropractic today. We are qualified chiropractors who offer personalised treatment plans for the relief from neck pain, back pain, spine pain and sciatica caused by excessive computer work. We service the Sydney suburbs of Dee Why and Brookvale, contact us at Impulse Chiropractic today to begin your care plan.
