Often times, simply ignoring

that little twinge or spasm and continuing with your work for a few more

hours can lead to overexertion. This can lead to strained muscles, sprained

joints, excessive pressure on the intervertebral discs, and ultimately

pain.

With the information age now

upon us, there has been an enormous increase in computer use. Associated

with computer use, there are three common forms of postural faults which

can cause mid-back pain. These include; slouching, forward head carriage

and rounded shoulders.

Slouching multiplies the already

stressful forces placed on your spine by gravity which tremendously increases

the pressure on your spine. Slouching can cause the discs in between you

spinal vertebrae to push backwards, potentially causing a herniated disc.

It also over-stretches the postural muscles which support your spine.

Forward head posture occurs

when your head and your ears are positioned in front of your shoulders.

With proper head posture your ears should be aligned directly over your

shoulders. Forward head posture causes the muscles at the base of the

head and neck to tighten, restricting blood flow to your head, and also

your arms. The muscles at the base of the head and neck will tighten and

press on nerves. This can cause headaches, neck pain, and possibly pain

in your arms and hands.

Rounded shoulders occur when

your shoulders are not aligned directly over your hips and below your

ears. This posture will cause undue stress on the shoulder tendons and

subsequent tightening of the upper arm muscles.

Postural muscles

Maintaining good posture is

important for a healthy mid-back. Whether you are working at your computer,

driving a car, reading a book, knitting, or sitting at a meeting, you

should always remember to be aware of your back. The spine is not an inflexible

rod as some people may believe. In fact, it is quite flexible. Of course,

the spine supports the body and all its organs. But, it also protects

the sensitive and delicate spinal cord and spinal nerves which act as

the intelligence line to the body.

Some of the muscles in your

back, neck and stomach regions help to maintain a correct posture. The

function of these muscles is to sustain your upright position for long

periods of time. They are perfectly designed for this function. You can

strengthen and tone these muscles, which will help you maintain good posture

for long periods of time, and be more productive at work or play.

The following changes may improve

your productivity for longer periods of time while you are seated:

- Always try to sit an

inch taller than normal.

- Align your ears directly

over your shoulders.

- Align you shoulders

directly over your hips.

- Position you head evenly

between both shoulders, not tilted to one side.

- When looking down, your

head should be positioned over you neck and not in front of you shoulders.

Mid-back pain and chiropractic

The premise of chiropractic

has always been to remove vertebral subluxations from the spine. Chiropractors

analyze the spine for vertebral subluxations. Getting a periodical checkup

is critical even if you feel fine. You can not feel vertebral subluxation.

You only feel the effects of vertebral subluxation. When you experience

pain in you mid-back, delaying proper care is dangerous and can result

in major health problems. If you experience mid-back pain, chiropractic

may help the cause of your pain, which may have been overlooked or ignored.

- Dr. Ryan Napp

(This information is written

for educational purposes and any questions should be discussed with a

health care professional. Dr. Ryan Napp is a chiropractor at Napp Chiropractic

Center in Fayetteville. For more information call 770-716-5228.)

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