How Neck Pain Can Cause Headaches
By Dr. Richard Bernier, P.T.
Due to the types of professions we engage in today requiring us to be at a computer for long periods of time, our posture may become compromised. As you fatigue, your good erect posture gives way to a slouching posture, whereby your head goes forward and our shoulders tend to move forward. This action puts a great deal of stress on the muscles of the upper back and neck. In some cases, along with pain to the surrounding musculature, blood flow to the head can be reduced, thus leading to headaches.
Along the neck, vertebrae and bones of the neck, arteries run from the heart, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain. With a postural compromise or head forward posture, the space where the arteries enter the brain has been narrowed due to bad posture. This decrease in blood flow to the brain can cause headaches and eye fatigue.
How to Stop Neck Pain and headaches
Not enough can be said for the importance of good posture. While at your desk, always try to sit upright with you head on your shoulders and with your shoulders back, not slumped forward. Sitting erect allows the muscles in the upper back and neck to work in a reasonable manner and not become over-taxed with stress. Good posture also allows the arteries to stay open to provide an adequate blood supply to the brain.
Getting Help for Neck Pain and Headaches
If you suffer from neck pain and headaches, ask your primary care physician about physical therapy and seek a qualified physical therapist to guide you on your way to a cure. The team at Bernier Physical Therapy Associates, Newburyport, Mass., is available for a free 15-minute consultation, by appointment, over the phone or in person.
(Dr. Richard Bernier, PT has more than thirty-one years of experience dealing with musculoskeletal disorders. Dr. Bernier, PT incorporates many different techniques appropriately tailored to each individual's needs.)
Additional Resources and Articles
How Posture Can Cause Neck Pain While Sitting at the Computer
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