Common Pains at Work That Signal a Chiropractic Visit

Do you struggle with constant aches and pains? Work-related practices could be the culprit. Most people work long hours and are unaware of the stress they put on their bodies and how it may affect them.

At Family Life Chiropractic, we see many patients with injuries caused by poor work ergonomics. Here are some of the most common pains at work that may signal a chiropractic visit and how they’re treated.

Most Common Workplace Injuries and How to Prevent Them

1. Lower Back Pain

Anything from lifting heavy objects the wrong way to spending too much time on your feet can cause lower back pain or sciatica. Sitting incorrectly at work with an unsupportive chair or poor posture may also result in chronic pain.

How to prevent it: If you sit behind a desk all day, try keeping your feet flat on the floor and your spine cushioned and supported by your chair. Some people even place rolled-up towels behind their backs to eliminate lower back pain

Practicing proper work ergonomics is usually enough to ease discomfort, though a chiropractor can make spinal adjustments to improve your posture and strengthen your back muscles. If your lower back pain is caused by a herniated disc, non-surgical spinal decompression therapy can help remove pressure on the nerve roots, relieve pain, and stimulate healing.

2. Neck Pain

Neck pain is often caused by poor work ergonomics. For example, if your computer screen is too high or low, and you’re moving your head up and down, you could strain your neck. This is true if you’re too far from the monitor and need to lean forward to see it.

Chronic stress can also be a source of neck and back pain.

How to prevent it: Try placing your monitor directly in front of you, an arm’s length away. The top of the screen should be at or slightly below eye level. Also, use a headset to avoid straining your neck when making phone calls.

A chiropractor can adjust your neck to eliminate your pain and increase your range of motion. They may also recommend cold laser therapy to reduce pain and swelling.

3. Wrist Pain

Wrist pain is typically a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is caused by the compression of the median nerve in your arm. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include shooting pains that travel down the arms. You may also experience numbness and tingling in your hands and fingers.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is mostly attributed to overuse of the wrist, like typing on a keyboard for hours on end.

How to prevent it: The best way to prevent wrist pain is to alternate between activities or tasks throughout the workday. This will help reduce strain on your hands and wrists. Also, keep your hands and wrists in line with your forearms, and make sure your computer mouse is next to your keyboard to avoid reaching.

Chiropractors can gently manipulate your wrists, elbows, and spine to relieve your carpal tunnel pain. They may also recommend exercises, or gentle stretches, to improve stiffness and rebuild strength in your wrists.

Chiropractor in Clearwater, FL

Family Life Chiropractic offers a variety of chiropractic treatments for relief from common workplace pains. After locating the exact source of your pain, our Clearwater chiropractor, Dr. Jere will help alleviate your symptoms and offer you the quickest relief.

Call 727-447-4647 or contact us online to schedule a consultation today!