Quick answer
Desk work and long drives pull your head forward and strain your neck and shoulders, which often leads to headaches. Raise your screen, bring your phone up and take a short break every half hour. If the pain keeps coming back or spreads into your arm or hand, call us.
Many people who live in Sussex work in Milwaukee or Wauwatosa. That can mean a long drive, a full day at a desk and an evening with a phone or laptop. By Thursday your neck is tight and a dull headache has settled in behind your eyes.
This article is for education and is not medical advice. Here is what is going on and what you can do about it.
Why Your Neck Hurts at Work
Your head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds, and a 2014 study in Surgical Technology International estimated how much more your neck carries as it tips forward. When your head sits right over your shoulders, your neck carries it easily. When it drifts forward to read a screen, the muscles in your neck and upper back work much harder.
Driving adds to it. Gripping the wheel and sitting in traffic keeps your shoulders tense and your head forward.
Move your head forward
of load on your neck. Looking down at a phone or laptop.
Estimates from a 2014 study in Surgical Technology International for an average adult head. Your numbers will differ.
How Neck Strain Causes Headaches
Tight muscles at the base of the skull and across the shoulders are a common source of tension headaches. They often feel like a band of pressure around the head, or an ache that moves from the neck toward the temples.
If this is a regular part of your week, it is worth finding the cause. If a headache is severe, comes on suddenly or is unlike any you have had before, get medical care right away.
Desk Fixes That Help
You do not need a new job. A few habits take real pressure off your neck.
- Raise your screen The top of the monitor should be about eye level. A laptop works better with a stand and a separate keyboard.
- Bring your phone up Lift it closer to eye level instead of dropping your head to look down.
- Support your back Keep your feet on the floor and your forearms resting so your shoulders can relax.
- Move every half hour Stand, roll your shoulders and look out a window.
Set Up Your Car Seat
Sit back with your head close to the headrest. Keep your hands at a comfortable height on the wheel so your shoulders are not hunched.
On a long commute, a small adjustment can make the end of the drive feel very different.
When to Get Neck Pain Checked
Stiffness that comes and goes is common. These signs deserve a closer look.
- Neck pain or headaches on most days, or ones that keep coming back
- Pain, tingling or numbness that travels into your shoulder, arm or hand
- Trouble turning your head, such as checking your blind spot
- Pain after a car accident or a fall, even if it seemed minor at first
How Chiropractic Care Helps
We start by finding out why your neck hurts. A MyoVision scan shows where the muscles around your spine are under stress, so we know where to focus.
Care for neck pain uses gentle adjustments with the Integrator instrument. There is no forceful twisting or cracking, and we give you simple posture tips for your desk and your car. If headaches are a big part of your week, read about headache and migraine relief.
See us at our Wauwatosa office at 10425 W. North Ave #332 or at our Sussex office on Silver Spring Drive. You can also call 414-426-9677.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my neck hurt after a day at my desk?
Looking at a screen pulls your head forward, and the muscles in your neck and upper back work harder to hold it up. Hours of that leave them tight and sore.
Can desk work cause headaches?
Yes. Tight muscles at the base of the skull and across the shoulders are a common source of tension headaches.
How high should my computer screen be?
The top of the screen should sit about level with your eyes, so you are not looking down. A laptop works better with a stand and a separate keyboard.
When should I get neck pain checked?
Get it checked if it keeps coming back, limits how far you can turn your head, or sends pain, tingling or numbness into your shoulder, arm or hand.
Do you treat neck pain at both offices?
Yes. You can see us in Wauwatosa at 10425 W. North Ave #332 or in Sussex on Silver Spring Drive.
Dr. Jeff Grosskopf, DC
Dr Jeff Grosskopf founded Epic Life Chiropractic in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. He earned a BS in Exercise Science from Trinity Christian College and his DC from Life Chiropractic College. With over 17 years of experience, he uses advanced imaging, MyoVision scanning, and the Torque Release Technique to correct spinal ligament injuries and vertebral subluxations. He lives in Sussex with his wife Amy and their children Bradlee and William.