Can a standing desk help my neck pain?
If you have co-workers who have switched to a standing desk, you may wonder whether it could be a good fit for you. Standing desks are linked to several health benefits, including lowering your chances of dealing with tech neck. Let’s explore the advantages of switching your setup at work and how it could provide neck pain relief in the long run.
Studies show that standing desks can reduce neck and upper back pain in the workplace. These issues are common symptoms of tech neck, a condition stemming from spending so much of your day working at a keyboard and monitor.
While standing desks may be able to prevent and relieve neck pain to some degree, you can still find yourself in a world of hurt if you aren’t using it properly. Whether sitting or standing, ergonomics is key to a pain-free workday. Keeping your neck, back, hips, and feet in good alignment will help prevent tech neck pain—a standing desk may simply make it easier to work with better posture in mind.
While a standing desk can promote better habits at work, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. A good approach may be to get a desk that can be adjusted for sitting and standing so you can switch things up every hour or two. This promotes movement and stretching, encouraging you to be more active throughout the day and preventing the stagnation that can cause tension to build up in the muscles. As a general rule, you should stretch periodically at work—it’s good self-care and a good way to avoid pain. One of the best ways, of course, to minimize neck pain is through chiropractic care.
Tips for Managing the Side Effects of Stress
VIEW YOUR HEALTH AT A HOLISTIC LEVEL
It’s important to understand that stress isn’t just mental, emotional, or physical. It’s all of these things at once, and so are the side effects it causes. That’s why the best approach for stress management is equally comprehensive—you have to take care of yourself at all levels. Supporting yourself with a good night’s sleep, healthy meals, and regular physical activity helps with side effects like weight gain and adrenal fatigue.
MAKE TIME FOR GOOD HABITS AND SELF-CARE
When we feel stressed, it becomes all too easy to fall into bad habits. Whether it’s emotional eating or closing ourselves off from people who care about us, negative responses to stress can make the side effects worse. Try to get yourself into the habit of responding to stress positively—go for a swim or run, write down your thoughts in a journal, or call up a friend and talk for a while. Emotional, mental, and physical self-care are essential for managing stress and bettering yourself a little bit at a time. And it’s something you can do for yourself at home, at the office, and everywhere in between.
Stress management isn’t something you have to take on by yourself. The team at Dr. Rick Wells Chiropractic Clinics in Central Virginia has your back. We offer products and services like chiropractic care, dry needling, and doTERRA's whole food supplements—all of which can help you manage stress side effects like weight gain, sleeplessness, and mood swings.