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Sore neck

Discussion in 'Practice Management' started by surfboy, Jun 18, 2013.

  1. surfboy

    surfboy Active Member


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    Does anyone else experience a bad neck from having your head tilted downwards every day?

    What did you do about it?

    I've tried all the expensive posture chairs etc, does anyone recommend anything in particular which has helped them ?

    Thanks guys
     
  2. Deka08

    Deka08 Active Member

    Prevention or management?
    P) Gym. I only go once a week and do a lot on shoulder, back upper and lower, and core. My humerus likes to fall out, especially doing a good heel callus, old football injury. So I have to do work on that to keep it in check, it does flow over to the surrounding structures. If I haven't been (holidays, laziness, etc) the whole complex leading up to the neck will let me know.

    M) trigger pointing with a golf ball or similar. It hurts like a ........ but do it enough and it reduces my immediate discomfort by half or better.

    Maybe also look at pillow/mattress at home - lots of little stuff can contribute.

    Sorry no silver bullets.

    Take care.
    Derek Condon
     
  3. Admin2

    Admin2 Administrator Staff Member

  4. phil

    phil Active Member

    I also agree that good posture and core strength is important. Routine podiatry practice demands a fair bit of muscle endurance to keep good posture. I know that sounds ridiculous, but if I don't keep in shape I get a sore neck/head/back. Particularly after an afternoon at the local aged care facilities.

    I'd also recommed a visit to a good physio with experiance in treating shoulders/ necks/ cervicogenic headaches. They should be able to assess you and offer treatment and a prevention plan.

    These things have really helped me!
     
  5. David Wedemeyer

    David Wedemeyer Well-Known Member

    Most important with spinal pain is determining the 1)mechanism and then 2)structure generating the pain. Most is disc or facet and often overuse in poor posture sets you up for the nagging discomfort. You can try some self care at home, I send all of my cervical patients home with a set of exercises that have made a dramatic difference after the initial treatment has achieved a reduction in pain.

    If you'd like them Surfboy I have a crude sheet I can email you, just PM me your address.

    Best
     
  6. Agreed - homework and posture when treating and when typing your notes. I see a Chiro every 6-8 weeks who releases and mobilises to keep everything in check. I have found that this works for me. One of my colleagues uses a Physio with great results. I'm a fan of trying both to see what you best respond to. Then stretch, stretch stretch :)

    Good luck
     
  7. jane.e.benson

    jane.e.benson Active Member

    Hy,
    I would definately recomend seeing a physio. I had problems years ago ( as did my Chiropodist father. He ended up with a collar, corset and a cane) I saw a physio who recommended daily exercise. I do them every working day. Now I very rarely have neck pain. I don't need support that my father needed
     
  8. Lab Guy

    Lab Guy Well-Known Member

  9. wdd

    wdd Well-Known Member

    Sitting with your head forward or bent down is inherent in the practice of podiatry.

    You have to find ways of reducing the number of times per day and the length of times (sitting, standing, walking) that your head is forward or down.

    At every opportunity focus on straightening your back and imagine putting your head on top of the vertical column of you spine.

    Remember that it's not just at work that you sit in this head forward position. Your car seat is designed to put you into the head forward position as is your settee/sofa. Even lying on your back, in bed with a pillow under your head is putting your head forward.

    Next time you attend a gathering of older active podiatrists look at them from the side and notice how many of them have exaggerated thoracic and lumbar curves topped of with the head forward position, ie they are standing and walking with their spines and heads in the same position as when they are sitting at work, in the car and at home.

    Look at some of your younger colleagues from the side and you will see, in many of them, the same posture as in the older podiatrists but less pronounced.

    All of these postural 'deformities seem more exaggerated in men possibly because they start it at eighteen and carry on without a break until retirement.

    If you are going to minimise the risk of ending up the same way your posture has to become something that you think about all the time until it becomes a reflex.

    Going to the physio/osteo/etc once every few weeks or months will cost you money and give you the sense that you are doing something useful but without you taking care of your posture on an ongoing daily basis in the rest of your life the physio/osteo/etc is next to valueless.

    Walk/stand/sit tall, walk/stand/sit straight and look the world right in the eye, as the song implies.

    Bill

    PS Remember too that tilting your head upwards without reducing any exaggerated thoracic and lumbar curves is only dealing with the aesthetics and is likely to increase rather than decrease neck problems.
     
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  11. Tim Foran

    Tim Foran Active Member

    Less work / more surfing
     
  12. Leah Claydon

    Leah Claydon Active Member

    Invest £34 in a bodyblock www.bodyblock.co.uk - it will save your neck and shoulders - it was invented for this problem.

    Leah
     
  13. davidh

    davidh Podiatry Arena Veteran

    I don't know about the surfing but the less work gets my vote:D
     
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