Sitting, Reaching and Posture
Sitting and reaching have a profound impact on your posture. Both sitting and reaching stress the spine. Reaching stresses both the spine, shoulder, elbow and wrist. Sitting and reaching contribute to poor posture that can cause neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain and wrist pain.
Sitting has a negative impact on your back for several reasons. Since our spines were made to move, it should come as no surprise that hours on end of sitting in a static position leads to injury.
In addition to a lack of movement, the sitting posture itself is structurally stressful to the spine. When we are standing upright, the lower back should have a sweeping forward curve which promotes stability by reducing pressure on the discs that separate our vertebra. Sitting reverses the normal curve in our lower backs and increases the pressure on the discs leading to an increased chance of injury.
From a postural standpoint, the sitting position can promote rounded shoulders, slumping forward of the upper back and jutting forward of the jaw. Not only are these postures unattractive but they contribute to the development of tendonitis and result in stretch weakness of the involved muscles.
There are volumes of information regarding ideal sitting postures both on the web and within other posts on this site. Sorting out your posture with the use of a good ergonomic chair will help you maintain good posture and spinal health.
Reaching at or beyond your normal arc of motion also contributes to poor posture and cumulative trauma type injuries, especially of the neck and shoulder. It is vitally important to the health of your frame to keep objects that you use on a regular basis within easy reach. Your phone, the mouse, stapler, etc., if used frequently through the course of your day, should be within your immediate reach. Objects that are used less frequently can be kept farther away, closer to the edge of your comfortable reach.
Take a good look at your work space. Making a few simple changes will help save your posture and your spinal health.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Oct 27, 2009
Oct 18, 2009
Whiplash Dr San Diego
A Dangerous Time of Year: Whiplash Time is Upon Us
When the rains begin to fall, we know to expect calls from our regular patients and new referrals to address pain stemming from car accident injuries. When roads are slick and slippery, it is around 4 to 5 times more likely for an accident to occur when compared to calm weather. In the last decade and a half, my Chiropractic office in San Diego has seen hundreds of car accident and personal injury victims.
Whiplash is the classic neck injury that is most commonly caused by automobile accidents.
When the head is pulled forward and yanked backwards as in an auto accident, the immense stress affects the neck causing whiplash. The weight of the head is considerable compared to the size of the muscles used to control it. When the head is suddenly whipped in a violent manner, the muscles of the neck are inadequate to support the movement associated with the gravitational g-force pull. Some of the typical results of a whiplash injury are ligament damage, pinched nerves, muscle tearing, spasms and back problems.
Whiplash can become a painful, chronic problem if not treated. A lot of people make the error of judging the type of injury to their body, based on the impact force or the total amount of car damage. This isn't good thinking. There are a myriad of variables that determine whether someone experiences pain with just a small fender-bender, while someone else feels absolutely none after having their car totaled by a vehicle traveling at 65 mph. Some of the considerations as to whether a person sustains an injury during an accident include angle and speed of impact, use of safety belts, and head position.
It is a common myth that whiplash and other injuries can only occur as a result of high speed auto accidents; in reality, many people experience symptoms after minor accidents. Symptoms of whiplash may occur at the time, or they may occur days, weeks or even many months later.
Whiplash can cause many problems including painful headaches, muscle spasms, pain in the shoulders, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), arm pain and tingling, insomnia, and the most common, neck pain. The chronic pain of whiplash can destroy a patient’s quality of life, resulting in the chance of depression.
Misaligned vertebrae in the neck is a common problem associated with whiplash. If treatment is not obtained, these vertebrae will remain misaligned, which will cause chronic neck pain, loss of motion, headaches and arthritis in the future.
A study done in Canada, published in 1998, looked at approximately 10,000 people with neck injuries; the conclusion from the study was that remedies in addition to chiropractic treatment are necessary for recovery from whiplash. The study also determined that "accepted" treatments like muscle relaxers, neck collars, immobilization, and all the rest were not helpful for a whiplash victim.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
When the rains begin to fall, we know to expect calls from our regular patients and new referrals to address pain stemming from car accident injuries. When roads are slick and slippery, it is around 4 to 5 times more likely for an accident to occur when compared to calm weather. In the last decade and a half, my Chiropractic office in San Diego has seen hundreds of car accident and personal injury victims.
Whiplash is the classic neck injury that is most commonly caused by automobile accidents.
When the head is pulled forward and yanked backwards as in an auto accident, the immense stress affects the neck causing whiplash. The weight of the head is considerable compared to the size of the muscles used to control it. When the head is suddenly whipped in a violent manner, the muscles of the neck are inadequate to support the movement associated with the gravitational g-force pull. Some of the typical results of a whiplash injury are ligament damage, pinched nerves, muscle tearing, spasms and back problems.
Whiplash can become a painful, chronic problem if not treated. A lot of people make the error of judging the type of injury to their body, based on the impact force or the total amount of car damage. This isn't good thinking. There are a myriad of variables that determine whether someone experiences pain with just a small fender-bender, while someone else feels absolutely none after having their car totaled by a vehicle traveling at 65 mph. Some of the considerations as to whether a person sustains an injury during an accident include angle and speed of impact, use of safety belts, and head position.
It is a common myth that whiplash and other injuries can only occur as a result of high speed auto accidents; in reality, many people experience symptoms after minor accidents. Symptoms of whiplash may occur at the time, or they may occur days, weeks or even many months later.
Whiplash can cause many problems including painful headaches, muscle spasms, pain in the shoulders, dizziness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), arm pain and tingling, insomnia, and the most common, neck pain. The chronic pain of whiplash can destroy a patient’s quality of life, resulting in the chance of depression.
Misaligned vertebrae in the neck is a common problem associated with whiplash. If treatment is not obtained, these vertebrae will remain misaligned, which will cause chronic neck pain, loss of motion, headaches and arthritis in the future.
A study done in Canada, published in 1998, looked at approximately 10,000 people with neck injuries; the conclusion from the study was that remedies in addition to chiropractic treatment are necessary for recovery from whiplash. The study also determined that "accepted" treatments like muscle relaxers, neck collars, immobilization, and all the rest were not helpful for a whiplash victim.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
Oct 14, 2009
Need a Mouse Platform
Why You Need a Mouse Platform
A mouse pad simply isn’t enough. Not even if it has a little gel support pad for your wrist. A mouse pad enhances the operation of the mouse but doesn’t do anything for your ergonomic situation.
I am a practicing chiropractor in San Diego California. Years ago I began to notice that most of my patients who were being treated for either Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, neck pain, shoulder pain or any of the other symptoms that are specific to stress imposed by long days at the computer had one common complaint.
That complaint was that extending their arm to reach for the mouse was one of their primary aggravating factors.
One of things that I have learned by treating injured people is that when they are in pain, activities that they perform without concern of postural stress when they are “healthy” suddenly become painful.
Reaching for the mouse is one of these activities. Reaching for your mouse in a way that forces your arm to assume any position other than hanging at your side while supported on your chairs armrest exposes your wrist, arm, shoulder, neck and upper back to postural stress.
With time, this ongoing postural stress will either cause a repetitive stress injury on its own or it will help contribute to one.
This mechanism of injury was the basis for the development of the Ergo Nav mouse platform. The Ergo Nav attaches to your chairs armrest in a way that places your mouse right at your finger tips allowing for stress free mouse operation.
Independently performed EMG studies show significantly less muscular activity in the neck, back and shoulder girdle with use of the Ergo Nav as compared to reaching to the desk for the mouse. These same results were shown regardless of whether or not the desk placed mouse pad had a gel pad wrist rest or not.
While there were mouse platforms already available, they were either non-adjustable (read not ergonomic) or they were adjustable and very expensive with bulky, impractical chair attachments.
The Ergo Nav allows for adjustment of the platform in several planes for true ergonomic adaptability while maintaining exceptionally low pricing compared to other mouse platforms.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
A mouse pad simply isn’t enough. Not even if it has a little gel support pad for your wrist. A mouse pad enhances the operation of the mouse but doesn’t do anything for your ergonomic situation.
I am a practicing chiropractor in San Diego California. Years ago I began to notice that most of my patients who were being treated for either Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, neck pain, shoulder pain or any of the other symptoms that are specific to stress imposed by long days at the computer had one common complaint.
That complaint was that extending their arm to reach for the mouse was one of their primary aggravating factors.
One of things that I have learned by treating injured people is that when they are in pain, activities that they perform without concern of postural stress when they are “healthy” suddenly become painful.
Reaching for the mouse is one of these activities. Reaching for your mouse in a way that forces your arm to assume any position other than hanging at your side while supported on your chairs armrest exposes your wrist, arm, shoulder, neck and upper back to postural stress.
With time, this ongoing postural stress will either cause a repetitive stress injury on its own or it will help contribute to one.
This mechanism of injury was the basis for the development of the Ergo Nav mouse platform. The Ergo Nav attaches to your chairs armrest in a way that places your mouse right at your finger tips allowing for stress free mouse operation.
Independently performed EMG studies show significantly less muscular activity in the neck, back and shoulder girdle with use of the Ergo Nav as compared to reaching to the desk for the mouse. These same results were shown regardless of whether or not the desk placed mouse pad had a gel pad wrist rest or not.
While there were mouse platforms already available, they were either non-adjustable (read not ergonomic) or they were adjustable and very expensive with bulky, impractical chair attachments.
The Ergo Nav allows for adjustment of the platform in several planes for true ergonomic adaptability while maintaining exceptionally low pricing compared to other mouse platforms.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Arm Wrist Pain from Computer Use
Is computer work making you miserable?
If it is, you are not alone. National statistics point to the computer as a major contributor to lost days at work due to injury. I see the same thing in my San Diego Chiropractic office. Neck pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, hand pain and back pain are common among those who don’t have the proper ergonomic set-up of their computer stations. That being said, some people get these symptoms regardless of their ergonomic set-up.
Computer ergonomics is the study and / or implementation of workstation design with the purpose of reducing or eliminating physical stress.
My interest in repetitive stress syndromes began approximately 10 years ago when my practice started seeing a much greater number of people suffering from the effects of computer / keyboard work. Despite all of my training and continuing education related to these types of injuries, I quickly realized that traditional treatment for this type of injury was marginally successful at best.
Any type of therapy was going to have to include the application of basic ergonomic principals to the patient’s work environment.
I am of the opinion that treatment alone or application of ergonomic principals by themselves was not going to resolve a repetitive stress injury.
Over the next several weeks I will write a series of articles that will address the implication of workstation ergonomics and injury resulting from postural stress secondary to use of the computer mouse.
Specifically, the following will be addressed:
1) What repetitive stress injuries are
2) What role do work station ergonomics play in injury
3) How reaching for the mouse sets the stage for injury
4) What are the symptoms of repetitive stress injury
5) How you can avoid mouse reaching injuries
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
If it is, you are not alone. National statistics point to the computer as a major contributor to lost days at work due to injury. I see the same thing in my San Diego Chiropractic office. Neck pain, shoulder pain, wrist pain, hand pain and back pain are common among those who don’t have the proper ergonomic set-up of their computer stations. That being said, some people get these symptoms regardless of their ergonomic set-up.
Computer ergonomics is the study and / or implementation of workstation design with the purpose of reducing or eliminating physical stress.
My interest in repetitive stress syndromes began approximately 10 years ago when my practice started seeing a much greater number of people suffering from the effects of computer / keyboard work. Despite all of my training and continuing education related to these types of injuries, I quickly realized that traditional treatment for this type of injury was marginally successful at best.
Any type of therapy was going to have to include the application of basic ergonomic principals to the patient’s work environment.
I am of the opinion that treatment alone or application of ergonomic principals by themselves was not going to resolve a repetitive stress injury.
Over the next several weeks I will write a series of articles that will address the implication of workstation ergonomics and injury resulting from postural stress secondary to use of the computer mouse.
Specifically, the following will be addressed:
1) What repetitive stress injuries are
2) What role do work station ergonomics play in injury
3) How reaching for the mouse sets the stage for injury
4) What are the symptoms of repetitive stress injury
5) How you can avoid mouse reaching injuries
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
ADJUSTABLE MOUSE PLATFORM Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav
Chiropractic San Diego Website to make an appointment
Better Health Steve Jones
Oct 9, 2009
Neck And Head Pain Q&A
Neck And Head Pain Questions And Answers
1. Is arm pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness related to neck pain? Will I need surgery?
Because the nerves in the cervical region radiate down through the arms, these symptoms can sometimes be related to neck pain. While surgery is sometimes required to reduce pressure on the nerves, many cases can be treated effectively through physical therapy.
2. Is surgery beneficial for chronic neck pain?
Surgery may be the treatment of choice in isolated cases-for example, if you have a condition known as spinal stenosis (in which the openings for the nerve roots or spinal cord become smaller, often due to osteoarthritis). In most cases conservative treatment, including physical therapy and/or medication, is preferable.
3. Is it alright to take medication such as aspirin for my neck pain and headache?
Yes, although anti-inflammatories such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or aspirin can cause stomach upset or ringing in the ears.
Be aware that acetaminophen can help with pain but not inflammation. Consult your pharmacist about the medication you are taking. Do not take medication that is old or previously prescribed for someone else.
4. How long before I get better?
The nature of your injury will determine how long it takes to heal. In general, recovery from neck sprains or strains can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the severity of the injury, your age and ability to heal, and other factors.
Your recovery will be faster if you follow the program designed by your physical therapist. Your program will probably include exercises and other treatments designed to ensure that the neck heals properly and regains its normal range of motion. Without proper treatment, prolonged stiffness and discomfort may result.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
1. Is arm pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness related to neck pain? Will I need surgery?
Because the nerves in the cervical region radiate down through the arms, these symptoms can sometimes be related to neck pain. While surgery is sometimes required to reduce pressure on the nerves, many cases can be treated effectively through physical therapy.
2. Is surgery beneficial for chronic neck pain?
Surgery may be the treatment of choice in isolated cases-for example, if you have a condition known as spinal stenosis (in which the openings for the nerve roots or spinal cord become smaller, often due to osteoarthritis). In most cases conservative treatment, including physical therapy and/or medication, is preferable.
3. Is it alright to take medication such as aspirin for my neck pain and headache?
Yes, although anti-inflammatories such as NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or aspirin can cause stomach upset or ringing in the ears.
Be aware that acetaminophen can help with pain but not inflammation. Consult your pharmacist about the medication you are taking. Do not take medication that is old or previously prescribed for someone else.
4. How long before I get better?
The nature of your injury will determine how long it takes to heal. In general, recovery from neck sprains or strains can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the severity of the injury, your age and ability to heal, and other factors.
Your recovery will be faster if you follow the program designed by your physical therapist. Your program will probably include exercises and other treatments designed to ensure that the neck heals properly and regains its normal range of motion. Without proper treatment, prolonged stiffness and discomfort may result.
Writers Bio
Dr. Steven R. Jones is a licensed Chiropractor in the state of California. He received his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in Sunnyvale, California. Dr. Jones has treated his patients for over 15 years at his own San Diego Chiropractic practice.
Dr. Jones is accepting new patients and would be happy to consult with you regarding your chiropractic needs.
Call Steve Jones at
(619) 280 0554
San Diego Chiropractic
Ergonomic Office Equipment Website to learn more about or Buy Ergo Nav, the Ergonomic Mouse Pad
or Visit Ergonomic Blog, "Ergonomically Yours" And read the latest News in the Ergonomic World.
Better Health Steve Jones
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