Don’t let Reading Become a Pain in the Neck!

By Charlotte Manning, Registered Osteopath

We have recently seen a number of patients with neck pain that has been caused by poor reading posture. Pain can present as neck ache, pain in the shoulders or even possibly headaches that develop during or after reading. It is more likely to be around the end of the day.

If this sounds familiar consider the following:

• Ensure you have proper back support and aren’t slouching
• Hold your book out in front of you rather than laying it in your lap
• Don’t hold your book too close to your face, causing your eyes to strain
• Ensure you are using sufficient lighting 
• Sitting at a desk can be beneficial for posture

If your neck pain or headache aren’t going away, pop into one of our clinics and we can assess and treat that nagging pain.

Pregnancy & Back Pain

Back pain in pregnancy is a common presentation we see in the clinic. It’s not just injured athletes and office workers who spend too much time at their desks that frequent our treatment rooms. Women experiencing spinal changes due to first, second and third trimester foetal development often come in need of help as they can’t turn to common medication to help with their pain.

The spine undergoes many changes during pregnancy. Your centre of gravity alters and different strains will travel through the back causing various muscle tensions and strains. Upper back ache is common in the first trimester and then the pain tends to shift to the lower back and the pelvis. Gentle yoga can help stretch tight muscles but if you are really suffering, go visit your local osteopath who can ease those tight muscles and improve the mobility of your spine.