Cell phones, Blackberries, I-Phones and handheld games have people spending a lot of time with their necks in awkward positions. While these devices are a source of information and help keep people in touch with friends and family, handheld devices are also a source of problems for neck muscles and lead to pain and injury.

Over the past few years as these devices are more prevalent in our everyday lives I have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people complaining of pain as a result of their handheld devices.  Patients don’t realize how much looking down at a gadget can worsen neck, back and shoulder problems and lead to a visit to my chiropractic office.

One thing I always tell patients is to hold the device in their hands and then take a look at the way they’re holding their body. People are looking down or having their head tilted to the side too much and that leads to pain. This is from the poor posture and overused muscles.

To help lessen muscle soreness caused by popular handheld devices here are some tips to follow so you can avoid unnecessary problems in the future and reduce the amount of chiropractic care you would need to help.

* Practice good posture when using any handheld device. Sit in a chair that provides solid back support and keep feet comfortably on the floor.

* Spend 10 minutes or less with your head tilted down looking at the device, and when possible holds the gadget at eye level.

* When at home or in the office, connect the device to your keyboard or computer.

* Take frequent breaks and alternate activities that use different muscle groups.

* Watch for warning signs of overuse such as headaches, fatigue or muscle pain.

If you continue to feel soreness, pain or muscle strain after following these tips, it may be time to visit a doctor of chiropractic, who is trained to provide suggestions for stretching, exercises, soft tissue therapy as well as chiropractic adjustments.
chiropractor minneapolis
chiropractor minneapolis
chiropractor minneapolis
chiropractor minneapolis