Pain in the Neck

MAKE-IT-SAFE MONDAY

After a long day of work many people begin to feel aches and pains. One of the most common aches that employees struggle with is neck pain. Neck pain can be felt anywhere from your skull down to you shoulders. If not addressed neck pain can become very severe, and they may even limit an employee’s ability to do their job.

Too much stress on the neck has a few unpleasant side effects. The most common being a sore neck where there is a small and uncomfortable pain that causes stiffness. Over a long period of time the stiffness may increase and leave the neck almost motionless. Another side effect of neck injuries is a headache. Headaches are caused by the input of nerve endings in the scalp and neck. This is why it is not uncommon to have both a headache and a sore neck at the same time.

Neck pain is commonly caused by added stress to an employee’s neck that is repeated and prolonged through out the day. There are many activities that can cause stress to an employee’s neck. If an employee is working on a computer at a desk it is very common that they have neck pain do to the fact that they tend to lean their head forward to read the text on the computer. A long day of work staring at a screen puts a lot of stress on your neck causing an uncomfortable soreness. So this may be a good time to lean back in your chair and do some simple next stretches. 

The best way to prevent this soreness is to make sure you keep good posture while at your desk. Sit straight up in your chair, move your computer screen so it is at eye level and is in front of you, rest your arms on an adjustable armrest, and make sure your feet are flat on the floor. If you follow these tips you will have a good posture and that will help prevent neck pain. Another tip is to avoid holding a phone between your shoulder and your ear. If possible, try using a headset or speakerphone. If you are in a meeting try to find a seat that is front and center. This will prevent you from leaning forward in your seat throughout the meeting.

There can be many other causes of neck soreness that are not office related. Poor lifting technique can be damaging to an employees body, especially if it is repeated frequently.  If you are lifting a heavy objects make sure to follow correct lifting technique.  When lifting something heavy make sure that it is close to your body. This will protect your spine from any injury. Also make sure to bend your knees, and let the strong muscles of the legs do all the work.

If you are still having slight pain in your neck even after following these tips it may be that your muscles aren't loose enough.  It may be helpful to take a break and walk around the room. Take some time to stretch your muscles and really loosen them up before going back to work.

Thank you for your time and attention. Let’s make it safe this Monday.

Lucas Wertish

Demand Generation Specialist, Lift’n Buddy, a Southworth Company