by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
Sitting for extended periods of time while hunching over a desk can cause discomfort, numbness and spine misalignment over time if the improper posture is not corrected. Holding the body upright can also further increase pressure and tension in muscles, ligaments, joints, and other tissues surrounding the spine. A sedentary lifestyle where the individual doesn�t take frequent breaks throughout their workday to stand and stretch can gradually lead to cardiovascular disease due to the decreased blood flow, tightened hip flexors, shortened hamstrings, pinched nerves and many other physical injuries and/or conditions in the long run.
Aches and pains on the body, particularly around the spine, herniated discs, nerve complications and painful joints are direct results of working while sitting in an improper posture for prolonged hours of the day. When you’re in a seated position, a lot of pressure is being placed directly on the spine and its surrounding structures. Our bodies were designed to stand upright and maintaining a seated position can be physically stressful.
“The weight is distributed while in a standing position,” explained Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., a health psychologist at Stanford University and a leading expert in neck and back pain, �That’s not the case with sitting. McGonigal added, “When you sit, you distort the natural curve of the spine, which means your back muscles have to do something to hold your back in shape because you’re no longer using the natural curves of the spine to lift yourself up against gravity.”
Approximately 80 percent of individuals in the United States alone may experience some form of chronic pain in their lifetime. Ultimately, working on a sitting position for extended periods of time per day is putting a tremendous mental and physical stress on our bodies.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Sitting is one of the most difficult positions for the body to maintain. Sitting for prolonged periods of time while hunched over in a chair can build excessive pressure on the spine and affect the blood circulation in the legs. For an individual that spends their workdays sitting down, the long term result of an improper posture can greatly alter the individual�s overall health. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic, Head Pain and Trauma, Headaches & Treatments
There are a wide variety of factors which can cause headaches. The most common reason for headaches, especially tension headaches, is muscle tension and tightness. The frequent tightness which occurs during a headache can be experienced all over the head and neck, feeling almost as though there is a rubber band around the head, according to reports of many individuals. The tension and tightening of the muscles is largely due to poor posture where the muscles are trying to adapt to the constraints which are being placed on them. Poor posture over time leads to shortening of the muscles and irritation of the structures surrounding the spine, particularly the spinal discs. It�s this specific shortening of the tissues that causes the rubber band feeling on the head, or tension headaches. Most often, this form of pain and discomfort is felt at the base of the skull. The longer the individual sits in an improper position, the longer the tension and tightness of the muscles will last and worsen, causing longer lasting and worse headaches.
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The difficulty with improper postures is that they are mostly involuntary in their movements. If you are an individual who stresses frequently, it�s not uncommon for the shoulders to rise up to their ears. The person may not even realize they�re practicing this posture until they take a deep breath and relax, an action many take longer to realize. The shoulders may have been up for a majority of the day, meaning the muscles were being overworked in an inappropriate position, and chances are the individual won�t correct their posture until the headache has started.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T�s insight:
After a long day of work, returning home with head pain�is an undesirable situation for many. People believe�that the reason behind their headaches at the end of the day is due to circumstances which are out of their control; work, bills, etc. But, as a matter of fact, from the way people sit at work and the way they hold their phone to the way people type on their computer, improper posture can greatly contributes to headaches. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
From childhood to adulthood, people are taught about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle through good nutrition and fitness methods. An individual�s overall wellness depends on how well they choose to listen to their bodies and follow the healthiest techniques they�ve learned throughout their days. But, what happens when after a long night of rest, you wake of feeling pain, despite maintaining a balanced nutrition and achieving your fitness goals?
Foremost, a proper posture is characterized by the natural alignment of the head and neck with the rest of the spine, even during sleep. If an individual is using multiple pillows to rest their head on at night, this can be fairly difficult to accomplish. The neck may be tilted or twisted this way for prolonged periods of time throughout the night, causing the muscles, ligaments, and other tissues surrounding the neck to painfully stretch and strain. Instead, the individual should use a single pillow beneath the head to maintain correct spinal alignment.
Ultimately, the best overall sleep posture is one that promotes a balanced spine and proper alignment. There are three common sleeping positions; side, back and stomach sleeping. Back and side sleeping can achieve the required spinal alignment to avoid injury, the development of conditions and other complications by adjusting pillow posture.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
When it comes to reaching optimal health, sleep is also an important element for overall wellness and people are rarely taught which are the most appropriate sleep positions. Since childhood, many individuals develop their own sleeping postures, however, the position that may be most comfortable and natural for some people might create health complications in the future.�Pillow posture or the way your head is positioned while sleeping, is a top priority for those individuals facing neck pain and discomfort. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
The irritating neck pain or back pain symptoms present when waking up in the morning can be a troublesome situation for many. Not to mention how debilitating and impairing the pain and discomfort can be for the individual when the symptoms last throughout the remainder of the day, affecting their work and emotions. Subsequently, if what these individuals have already been through is not enough, imagine what it�s like to return home after a long tiring day, only to realize that the pain is causing the individual to not get a proper night of rest.
To first recognize which are the bad sleeping postures and what causes stiffness and pain in the neck and back, you first have to understand the function of the spine.
The spine, also known as the backbone or vertebral column, consists of 24 articulating vertebrae. Each vertebra is stacked on top of each other and is connected by muscles and ligaments which help maintain the natural alignment of the spine. The spine is referred to as the most important part of the body because it functions to protect the spinal cord and nerves from shock as well as support the weight of the body to provide an upright posture. In between each vertebra, the spinal discs can be found which primarily function as shock absorbers to protect each bone from rubbing against each other. Also, these act as ligaments to hold together the shape of the spine.
A healthy spine extends from the skull to the pelvis in alignment with the head, neck and back when viewed from the front or back. When the spine is viewed from the side, there should be 3 naturally slight curves; the cervical curve (neck area), the thoracic curve (upper back area) and the lumbar curve (lower back area) that form into a natural �S� shape. These curves maintain their normal structure by two groups of muscles; the flexors (front and abdominal muscles) and the extensors (back muscles) which gently hold and pull on the spine, allowing it to have proper mobility.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
For many people, waking up with uncomfortable symptoms is an irritating�situation they experience throughout their lifetime. In fact, many individuals are unaware�that improper sleeping postures can lead to spinal misalignments which may eventually develop into neck and back pain. Sleeping positions are unconsciously established since childhood but these can be adjusted in adulthood to prevent neck and back pain as well as achieve proper sleep quality. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
As an individual experiencing�arthritis and its symptoms, it may be common knowledge�how sleeping in certain positions can aggravate the pain and discomfort, preventing many individuals from getting a good night of rest. While proper sleeping postures are essential for everyone, for people who’ve�been previously diagnosed with arthritis, sleeping in the right position may be even more crucial for relief. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
The connection between people with OA and their ability to sleep is indisputable. The arthritis pain, common with the condition, can make getting a good night�s rest challenging for anyone. The symptoms related with osteoarthritis are definitely an important element behind many individual�s interrupted sleep, but researchers have found that the relationship among osteoarthritis and sleep is much more complex. Rather than OA causing insomnia, the two conditions are believed to coexist.
A 2012 study published in the journal SLEEP, evaluated the quality of sleep in people who reported symptoms of chronic pain, including those with osteoarthritis. The researchers found that the amount of pain individuals were in before going to bed had little to do with how well they slept through the night. Additionally, the study concluded that an individual�s sleep quality the night before predicted how much pain they would be in the next day. People who slept inadequately experienced more pain the following day, according to the research.
Researchers believe that a lack of sleep may actually produce inflammatory pathways which may aggravate arthritis pain. Michael V. Vitiello, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle stated, �Poor sleep can also make you more sensitive to the feeling of pain. It�s not that the disturbed sleep makes you achy per say, but the disturbed sleep changes your perception of pain.�
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
About half of people diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) have difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep throughout the night. As a matter of fact, studies show that individuals with hip and knee osteoarthritis have a higher chance of experiencing insomnia as well as daytime fatigue than those without OA. Sleeping through the symptoms can be a challenge but research shows that following proper sleep hygiene can help. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic, Neck Pain, Remedies
Occasionally, people may wake up with neck pain from sleeping in an awkward position throughout the night. While often regarded as a common issue that is nothing more than irritating, the symptom of neck pain associated with incorrect sleeping posture can be extremely painful.
During deep sleep, the head can drop into a position which may place unnecessary amounts of stress on the neck muscles and other surrounding tissues of the cervical spine. After some time in an uncomfortable position, the brain is capable of sensing this disruption where it will then command your body to reposition itself in order for the neck to get some relief. Alternatively, many people can also choose to ignore the agitation, aggravating the strain on the neck further. Consequently, neck pain the following morning is the most common outcome. While there�s a variety of methods to prevent neck pain as well as a variety of treatments for individuals with other neck complications, if you�re already experiencing neck pain symptoms, there�s several simple solutions you can follow before you receive medical attention to find relief for your neck pain. ��
If the individual experiences neck pain as a result of improper sleeping posture or from other sleep complications on a regular basis, it�s crucial for the individual so seek immediate medical attention to properly diagnose any possible injuries or underlying conditions the person might have and follow through with an appropriate treatment to help restore the individual�s natural state of being as well as improve their overall wellness to ensure them a good night�s sleep.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
During sleep, the head can often rest in abnormal positions. While the brain usually signals the body to move and adjust itself to relieve unnecessary strain due to an improper sleeping posture, many individuals still wake up the next day with neck pain. A single case of neck pain can be relieved with several simple solutions, but if the symptoms persist, its essential for the individual to then seek professional medical attention. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
According to Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation, human beings spend approximately 33 percent of their lives sleeping. This amounts to about one third of an individual�s life, roughly the eight hours per day we need to function properly. Because of this, neck pain and other symptoms present during sleep should be considered a priority. Poor neck posture can result in constant stress being placed on the complex structures of the neck which can ultimately lead to complications, causing pain or an increase in symptoms that can lower the chance of improvement.
In healthy individuals during sleep, the neck is at an increased risk of damage or injury when the soft tissues become overly relaxed, resulting in strain from poorly controlled movements and improper support while sleeping. For individuals with previous neck disorders, the risk is combined with muscle and other tissue weakness that may have been stretched before.
Improper sleeping posture is described as a form of continuous stress which can lead to neck pain, shoulder pain and headaches. An individual who sleeps on their back with a pillow that is too high, forcing the head forward can create a disruption of the natural curvature in the neck. This position hyperflexes the neck, stretching the muscles, ligaments, and other tissues in the back of the neck. The longer a person sleeps this way, the more damage can be caused, further aggravating neck pain and other sleeping complications.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Because getting a good night’s rest is important for the body to function properly, treating neck pain and other cervical spine complications which may disrupt an individual’s sleep is crucial. Neck pain can be caused by a variety of factors but an improper sleeping posture, where the neck becomes strained during the night, may be the source of many individual’s neck complications. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
Sciatica is commonly described as leg pain caused by a pinched nerve in the lower back region. Although the issue usually begins in nerve roots located on either side of the lower spine, the symptoms can travel through the sciatic nerve, which runs the length of each leg from the buttock down into the foot.
�The leg pain, referred to as radiculopathy, is often worse than the back pain,� stated William A. Abdu, MD, medical director of the Spine Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
The most common cause for sciatica symptoms is a herniated disc. When a disc develops a tear or crack and bulges into the spinal canal, it can pinch the sciatic nerve. Generally, the symptoms can resolve within approximately 6 weeks, but for some individuals, the pain and discomfort may continue, developing into chronic symptoms. Fortunately, there are a variety of alternative treatment options available to help people suffering with these painful, sciatica symptoms.
A study conducted by the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics in 2010 found that 60 percent of individuals diagnosed with sciatica who didn�t get relief from other therapies but then tried spinal adjustments had experienced the same degree of pain relief as individuals who had surgery.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
A wide number of the population experience some form of constant back pain and other symptoms which can be debilitating and impairing for their everyday lives. From those numbers however, their low back pain may actually originate from sciatica. Sciatica can greatly limit an individual’s lifestyle, but fortunately, there are a variety of effective treatments for the set of symptoms without the use of medication. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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by Dr Alex Jimenez DC, APRN, FNP-BC, CFMP, IFMCP | Chiropractic
According to Steven Park, MD, author of Sleep, Interrupted and clinical assistant professor of otolaryngology at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., sleeping posture can affect an individual�s quality of sleep and overall health. Park explained that fatigue, sleep apnea, headaches, heartburn, and back pain are several of the most common complaints that can be aggravated as a result of improper sleep posture and a bad night�s rest.
But, when it comes to sleeping on your side, stomach, or back, which is the best sleep position? Additionally, if the certain sleep position one currently favors is not the best for their health, many individuals frequently question whether switching to another position may offer better health benefits for them. �You�re naturally going to gravitate toward a position that you feel best sleeping in,� Steven Park stated. Also, individuals will generally choose their preferred sleep posture based on how well they�re able to breathe in that position. �The smaller the airway in your throat becomes at night, the more likely it is you�re going to sleep on your stomach,� Park added.
Back sleeping is not recommended for individuals who snore or for those with sleep apnea. Individuals with these complications should preferably sleep on their side because it can help maintain their airways open. Research suggest that sleeping on the left side can relieve heartburn symptoms while right side sleeping can worsen them. Left side sleeping is also recommended during pregnancy as it can improve circulation to the heart, which is good for both mom and baby.
Steven Park advices that people may attempt to experiment with different sleeping postures but he strongly suggested against switching from the individual�s natural sleep position unless a previously diagnosed or currently identified health condition demands it.
Dr. Alex Jimenez D.C.,C.C.S.T’s insight:
Sleeping posture can be just as important as an individual’s sitting or standing posture. While there is not enough research to determine which of the various sleep positions is best, sleeping posture can affect an individual’s quality of sleep and may also aggravate some conditions, such as headaches, heartburn and back pain. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.�
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