4 Causes of Neck Problems

Neck problems…are a problem! Your neck is the most important part of your spine (known as the cervical spine), starting from the base of your skull and ending between the shoulders. All upper cervical chiropractic care specialists agree that the neck is so important because it is where all information travels (via the spinal cord and nerves) from the brain before it passes to the rest of the body. When the neck is injured it will affect the nerves which pass to the shoulders and arms, as well as the organs and lower body. If there is a problem in the neck it can cause headaches, stiff muscles, migraines, vertigo, inner ear issues, tingling in the hands, stomach issues, tiredness, reduced immunity…the list goes on and on. Read on to find out some of the main causes of these neck problems in our modern world so you can avoid them! For any cases where these causes have built up and are causing you discomfort, we are here to help at Vitality Chiropractic, Singapore’s only neck specialists.

1. Looking down at phones

Staring down at phones over stretches the joints and muscles in the neck, they then tighten to try and correct the faulty posture, sometimes causing a spasm or Subluxation of the upper neck.

Try to hold your phone higher so that your neck can stay in a natural, neutral position and still maintain its healthy curve. When your neck gets too straight or starts to bend forward it is a bad sign and can lead to symptoms in the future.

2. Sitting and hunching

Sitting for too long results in the head coming forward and the neck muscles having to work harder to hold it up. An adult head weighs a similar amount to a bowling ball, for every inch it moves forward from neutral it adds on kilos of force your neck has to deal with!

Make an effort to sit up straight and take regular break from sitting to move around.

3. Sleep position

This can lead to too much flexion in the neck, mis-aligning the bones of the upper cervical spine. If you sleep in your back try to have your head in a neutral position (such as when you walk around outside!) and if you’re a side sleeper keep he head in the centre, not leaning more left or right.

See our video ‘The best Sleep Position’ to learn more.

4. Mental stress

When mentally or emotionally stressed the shoulders react by tensing as part of our fight or flight system. Over time this happens more and more, affecting the joints, especially in the upper neck, causing Subluxations.

Try to avoid stressful situations or have mechanisms to understand the problem and how to control how you react to stress in those situations.

Read about more Associated Stress Symptoms, here.

How do I treat Neck problems?

While it is great to avoid these activities we understand that in life we may have to put ourselves in situations where we won’t always be able to hold our phones high, prevent sitting, sleep in a perfect position or avoid stress. That’s where we come in. At Vitality Chiropractic we respect that you know ways to be healthy and make the effort. Most of the work is done by you to take care of yourself, we help to balance things out and take care of the things you can’t. As a dedicated chiropractic centre in Singapore, we help you to carry on doing the things that matter to you so you can take your life back.

Since 2013, Upper Cervical Chiropractor, Dr. Shaan Rai helped patients achieve greater health, relocating to Singapore in 2016 and founding Vitality Chiropractic Centres. He has an impressive track record in providing relief and solutions for people who experience nerve system problems, such as headaches, migraines, dizziness, vertigo or neurological conditions.

Take your life back.

For a Complimentary, no-obligation call with the Doctor or to book a Consultation, call +65 8438 9550 or email help@vitalitychiropracticcentres.com to find out if we can help you at our Chiropractic Clinic in Singapore.