I work sitting at a desk. Why am I experiencing pain in my neck, shoulders, or arms?

Author

Spruce Health Group - Golden

Posted on

Feb 17, 2023

Book/Edition

Colorado - Northern Colorado

Modern conveniences such as TVs, Computers, and Cell Phones have enabled us to be more efficient at the expense of our need to move. As an example, in the past we needed to move our bodies more to complete basic everyday tasks. Many may remember the need to rise from the couch to change the channel on the TV. Along came the remote control which allowed us to change channels at the push of a button. We no longer need to get our entire body up from the couch but rather just use our arm, hand, and fingers. Now with the invention of voice command we can just speak, and our TV will easily change channels, without our body needing to move at all.

While our society experiences increased convenience in daily tasks and activities, what we don’t often realize is the detrimental toll that moving less takes on our bodies. When a desk worker spends many hours of the day sitting while using devices such as cell phones and computers, there is a propensity to develop rounded shoulders and a forward head posture. Hours of isometric muscle contraction to maintain the body’s position leads muscle to tighten and shorten, which may affect the front/back curvature of our neck. Muscles that work hard to hold up our head may fatigue and develop tight bands or trigger points which in turn may become painful. The imbalances may lead to abnormal compression of the vertebrae, strained joints, ligaments, and tendons, and even nerve compression along with abnormal mechanics of the neck, shoulders, and arms.1.Eventually the faulty posture, muscle fatigue from supporting the weight of the head, and resulting microtrauma may lead to symptoms including muscle tension in the neck and shoulders, neck pain, upper or mid back pain, chest discomfort, and possibly tingling and numbness in the arms and hands.2,4

If you are wondering whether sitting for many hours per day or your posture are contributing to your neck, shoulder, or arm pain you may benefit from a consultation with a Physical Therapist to perform an examination to identify the specific impairments you are experiencing and develop a strategy to address them. Through a combination of orthopedic manual therapy techniques including myofascial release for soft tissue and joint restrictions, exercises to strengthen the weakened muscles, and education for sitting and standing with a more neutral posture, you have the possibility to address your neck, shoulder and arm pain without medication or surgery.3,5.

Here at Spruce Health Group, we offer Orthopedic Physical Therapy as well as a suite of other services that may benefit your health. You can find us online at: www.sprucehealthgroup.com to schedule an appointment at the location nearest to you.

We invite you to contact us today for a consultation where we can discuss your needs and how our highly skilled clinicians can help YOU!


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Local Services By This Author

Spruce Health Group - Knee & Joint Care

Knee Pain Care 400 Indiana Street, Golden, Colorado, 80401

Spruce Health Group is an integrated health care practice serving aging adults and seniors who want to live life more comfortably and independently. Their specialties include osteoarthritis and knee pain. For each new and returning patient, they create a one-of-a-kind plan with long-term success in mind.Patients with knee pain, ankle pain, shoulder pain, elbow pain, or pain in any other joint have options for innovative injectable treatments. In addition, the team helps patients achieve long-term pain relief and better mobility with ongoing physical therapy, nutritional guidance, supplements, and chiropractic spine treatments.Locations across the Front Range