Increasing numbers of people are suffering from a stiff neck or muscle pain due to spending an excessive amount of time looking at a screen, a physical therapist in Taipei said yesterday, adding that some simple stretching or massage techniques help relieve tension in the muscles and can help people avoid other problems associated with bad posture.
Shutien Clinic physical therapist Tsai Pei-ling (蔡佩玲) said many people suffer from a stiff neck because they stretch their neck forward when looking at computer monitors, or tablet and smartphone screens for a long time, which can cause the neck and shoulders to feel tight.
“We used to think elderly people suffered from neck or shoulder pain more, but now many office workers suffer from these symptoms and I am seeing younger patients,” she said.
Tsai said if the neck and shoulders are held in an uncomfortable position for long periods of time the blood circulation between the head and the neck can be affected, causing people to feel sleepy, loose focus or even suffer a from a headache.
“If people do not pay attention to a stiff neck or shoulders, it might progress into arthritis, or when the bones compress the nerves, they might feel pain, weakness or numbness in the hands,” she said.
While some people like to twist their neck when it feels tight and make the bones “crack,” Tsai said these movements can cause more harm to the neck and can lead to the development of bone spurs.
She said people should first massage the upper part of the neck with finger tips, then tuck down the chin and gently push down the head to stretch the muscles in the back of the neck for a duration of five seconds.
Tsai said exercises to stretch neck muscles can be done sitting down or standing, but people should see a doctor if neck pain continues for more than three days.
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