neck pain Archives - Amazing Health Advances

What Is Tech Neck?

The AHA! Team — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 05:15:42 +0000

University of Miami via Newswise – A University of Miami Doctor of Physical Therapy explains what it is and what we can do to alleviate its symptoms. All the new technologies that have become a permanent part of our lives: Smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops and others have brought us constant connectivity, access to friends, news, information, and entertainment. But the constant use of these devices has also generated a physical condition that can be a real pain in the neck. Experts say that between 27 to 48 percent of workers experience neck pain each year. About 73 percent of higher educaton students do, too. Tech neck, also known as text neck, is a condition characterized by pain, stiffness, and discomfort in the neck and shoulders caused by prolonged use of electronic devices. About 91 percent of Americans own a smartphone and spend an average of four-to-six hours a day looking at the screen, according to experts. So, it is important to understand the causes of tech/text neck and what to do to alleviate it. Phil Grattan, a board-certified orthopedic specialist and an assistant professor of clinical physical therapy at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Physical Therapy, shares some insights on the condition. What is tech neck? Tech or text neck refers to neck pain and potential cervical spine degeneration resulting from the repeated stress of keeping the head flexed (bent forward) while looking down at the screens of mobile devices, tablets, or while texting for long periods of time. Why does this happen now more than before? Since the introduction of the iPhone in June 2007, the use of smartphones has exponentially risen among the entire population. According to a recent survey by Harmony Healthcare IT in 2024, Americans spend on average 5 hours and 16 minutes per day on the phone. For Generation Z, this increases to 6 hours and 27 minutes per day. What role does the continuous use of smartphones and tablets aggravate it? The average head weighs 11 pounds. Keeping the neck bent at 30 to 60 degrees to view a smartphone or tablet places excessive strain on the posterior neck muscles and stress on the cervical spine in an attempt to hold the head in that position. This may lead to neck, upper back, and shoulder pain. What can be done to get rid of the pain? Be cognizant of your posture when using a smartphone or tablet. Bending the head forward for a sustained period of time should be avoided. Limit the total number of hours spent looking at your phone over the course of the day. If you need to look at your phone for a long period of time, take frequent breaks. Every 10-20 minutes is recommended. When using your phone, try to keep the head straight and bring the phone directly in front of you. Using a pillow to support your arms when using the phone while sitting can also help. Use ergonomic support devices, when possible, to position your smartphone or tablet as close to eye-level as possible. Ensure the device is directly in front of you, not towards one side. What exercises or treatments do you use and recommend to get rid of it? If neck pain persists, seek care from a medical doctor who can provide treatment and/or refer you to the appropriate health care provider. Physical therapists are providers who can help improve posture, provide education, and prescribe strengthening exercises and home neck stretches to help alleviate the symptoms. To read the original article click here.

The post What Is Tech Neck? appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Why Do I Have a Lump in My Neck?

The AHA! Team — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 06:24:42 +0000

Morgan deBlecourt via Duke Health – Learn the Causes of Neck Lumps and When to See a Doctor for Care If you notice a lump in your neck, it’s important to be evaluated by a doctor quickly. Here, Duke Health head and neck surgeon Trinitia Cannon, MD, discusses causes of neck lumps and when you should see a head and neck specialist. What Causes a Lump in Your Neck? According to Dr. Cannon, most reasons for a lump in your neck are not life-threatening. The most common cause is swollen lymph nodes due to a virus or an infection like tonsillitis or strep throat. This is a standard immune system response that occurs when your body works to fight off sickness. A recent or active fever points to this as the culprit. Other possibilities include thyroid nodules, cysts, or benign (non-cancerous) tumors or other growths such as fluid-filled sacs called lymphangiomas or hemangiomas, vascular birthmarks comprised of extra blood vessels. When Should I Worry About a Lump in My Neck? “In terms of potential red flags, we’re looking for lumps that have been present for more than two weeks and are not associated with signs or symptoms of infection,” Dr. Cannon said. “There’s also a higher risk if you’re older than 40, the lump is bigger than 1.5 centimeters (about the width of your index finger) in diameter, you have multiple lumps, the lump has skin changes or ulcers, or if a lump is attached to surrounding tissues.” Can a Lump in the Neck Be a Sign of Cancer? Certain types of cancer can cause a lump in your neck. These include: Laryngeal (voice box) cancer Lymphoma Oral cancer Oropharyngeal cancer Salivary gland cancer Skin cancer (melanoma and non-melanoma) Thyroid cancer When to See a Doctor If the lump in your neck hasn’t gone away in a few days, make an appointment with your primary care doctor or visit an urgent care. Tell them about any recent cold symptoms, contact with sick people, Covid exposures, drenching night sweats, difficulty swallowing or speaking, breathing problems, pain in your ears or throat, and unanticipated weight loss. This information can help your doctor identify the underlying cause, Dr. Cannon said. When to See a Specialist Your primary care doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection that could be causing your lymph nodes to swell. However, if the lump persists after one round of antibiotics, it’s critical to make an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat doctor (ENT) who specializes in head and neck surgery, ideally within two weeks, Dr. Cannon said. This is especially important if you’re over 40, smoke or use other tobacco products, or drink alcohol, since these factors increase your risk of head and neck cancer. An ENT may recommend a needle biopsy to diagnose the lump. During this procedure, your doctor uses a syringe to collect cells from your lump or a nearby lymph node. The sample is tested in a laboratory for the presence of cancer. Surgery for a Lump in Your Neck An ENT may recommend surgery to remove the lump in your neck, but not until after performing a thorough exam and testing to determine exactly what the lump is and the best approach to treatment. Be wary of doctors who suggest surgery without an established diagnosis. “If your doctor wants to cut the lump out to make a diagnosis, that’s not appropriate, just in case it is cancer,” Dr. Cannon said. Doing so makes it more difficult to stage the cancer, meaning how advanced it is and whether it has spread. Premature surgery can also make treatment more complex and increase your risk of complications, including spreading the disease, and could disqualify you from participating in clinical trials. What’s My Next Step? If your neck mass persists and is associated with worrisome signs and symptoms, it is important to seek care from a specialist who sees and treats a lot of neck masses. “It is important to follow certain steps in the diagnosis and treatment of neck masses,” Dr. Cannon said. “You can be certain that the head and neck surgeons at Duke are qualified to give you the best advice and care.” To read the original article click here.

The post Why Do I Have a Lump in My Neck? appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Do You Suffer from Chronic Pain? Try THESE Drug-Free, Non-Invasive Natural Interventions to Get Relief

AHA Publisher — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 07:00:56 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – Over 20 percent of American adults suffer from chronic pain – defined as pain lasting longer than three months, or pain that persists beyond the normal healing time for an underlying condition or injury. A debilitating and frustrating condition, chronic pain exacts a serious toll on sleep, job performance, interpersonal relationships, and quality of life. While researchers report that chronic pain is one of the leading reasons for individuals to seek medical care, all too often the treatment they receive appears to be sadly inadequate. A newly published study shows that the number of people living with chronic pain significantly increased across every US adult demographic in the years 2002 through 2018, with researchers calling the rise “steep, sustained and pervasive.” STAGGERING Statistics: The Number of Chronic Pain Sufferers Exceeds Those Affected by Heart Disease, Cancer, and Diabetes Combined, Study Reveals In a study involving over 400,000 participants ages 25 to 84 and published in Demography, the researchers relied on data and questionnaires from the National Health Interview Survey. The survey asked about five common sites of pain: the lower back, the neck, the face and jaw, the joints, and the head. Researchers took into consideration the following factors: age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, and income. The team found that chronic pain increased “across the board” in the years of the study. While it rose the most among people of lower income, those of more comfortable means weren’t immune. People with household incomes of roughly twice the poverty level saw an increase of 42 percent in chronic pain, while people whose household income was four times the poverty level saw a 14 percent increase. The results were apparently not what the researchers had been expecting. “You might think that with medical advances, we’d be getting healthier and experiencing less pain, but the data strongly suggest the exact opposite,” commented co-author Dr. Hanna Grol-Prokopcyk, associate professor of sociology at the University of Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences. The joints and the lower back were the most prevalent sources of pain, researchers found. And, reports of chronic pain increased by 10 percent during the study period, which represents 10.5 million more people in pain. The Institutes of Medicine reported that the number of people experiencing chronic pain exceeds those affected by heart disease, cancer, and diabetes combined. While Pain Increased for all Groups, Factors for Chronic Pain Varied by Age Brackets Older participants, those between 65 and 84 years, had physical health issues associated with their chronic pain – such as obesity, diabetes, kidney issues, and high blood pressure. (In fact, 20 percent of pain increase in people aged 45 to 64 are due to arthritis, which becomes more common as people age). Younger and middle-aged people “felt the hurt” through mental health issues such as distress and alcohol abuse. Dr. Grol-Prokopcyk said that the results involving younger age groups demonstrated that pain can be as much a mental health problem as a physical issue. She called for healthcare providers to focus on prevention and management of pain – rather than procedures and medications – and urged an interdisciplinary approach. The “Dark Side” of Prescription Medications Features Abuse, Addiction, and Toxic Side Effects While Western medicine attempts to treat chronic pain with medications such as opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) the side effects of these can be severe. Long-term acetaminophen use has been linked to heart attacks, gastrointestinal bleeding, and liver problems, while NSAIDs increase the risk of stomach ulcers, kidney failure, and stroke. Opioids can not only cause constipation, fatigue, and dizziness but carry the potential for abuse, overdose, and addiction. Ironically, studies have shown that opioids may be ultimately ineffective for chronic pain – and may even worsen it. In fact, the team noted that opioids “may have contributed” to the rise of pain prevalence in the United States. It’s no wonder that many people have turned to natural and alternative methods of pain control. While there is no one solution for the complex problem of chronic pain, natural methods can often help provide a measure of relief. Manage Chronic Pain Naturally With Drug-Free, Non-Invasive Techniques Relaxation techniques – such as guided meditation, biofeedback, and deep breathing exercises – can promote the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters with pain-killing properties. These techniques have been shown in some studies to alleviate muscle tension, muscle spasms, aches, and pains. Tai Chi – a system of slow, continuous movements combined with breathing and relaxation techniques – can improve strength, joint stability, and balance. One review published in Scientific Reports showed that Tai Chi was associated with improvements in chronic pain from arthritis and lower back pain. Other recent studies and reviews have demonstrated beneficial effects from yoga, a combination of specific poses, deep breathing, and relaxation. In one study, “hot” yoga, performed in a heated room, showed particularly promising results. And – while it may be the last thing you feel like doing when suffering from an aching back – moderate aerobic exercise(such as walking, jogging, dancing, and swimming) has been shown to improve chronic pain. (Conversely, inactivity appears to worsen chronic pain). Of course, seek the advice of an integrative physician familiar with your condition before trying a new exercise regimen. Lavender essential oil, inhaled through a diffuser, was shown in one study to lessen the use of painkillers after surgery. And, in one encouraging study, topically applied lavender oil was comparable to the effect of tramadol, a prescription analgesic. Finally, bergamot essential oil aromatherapy has been shown to reduce neuropathic (nerve) pain. For topical application, natural health experts advise blending 10 drops of essential oil to each tablespoonful of carrier oil, such as olive or coconut oil. Chronic pain is not only a leading cause of disability – but may even impact longevity. And, it imposes a huge financial burden. Treating chronic pain carried a staggering $600 billion price tag in 2012, the last year for which statistics were available. Clearly, there is much room for improvement in the treatment of chronic pain. Hopefully, emerging and traditional natural techniques will receive more attention as a tool against this serious public health problem. Of course, as a final thought, never underestimate the value of eating an “anti-inflammatory diet” – which includes staying well-hydrated with clean (pure) water and eating lots of organic vegetables and some fresh fruit. Sources for this article include: MedicalNewsToday.com NIH.gov NIH.gov MedicalNewsToday.com NIH.gov To read the original article click here. For more articles from NaturalHealth365 click here.

The post Do You Suffer from Chronic Pain? Try THESE Drug-Free, Non-Invasive Natural Interventions to Get Relief appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Goodbye to Back Pain with “DynaSeat” – an Office Syndrome Behavior Adjustment Seat

AHA Publisher — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 07:00:50 +0000

Chulalongkorn University via Newswise – A team of Chula doctoral students has created a smart “DynaSeat” to adjust sitting behavior to prevent neck pain and promote fast recovery after office syndrome. When it comes to office syndrome, many people are more or less familiar with this popular digital-age disease, be it neck pain, shoulder stiffness, tingling from the upper arms to the fingertips, that compromise the quality of life and work. There are many ways to cure the symptoms, including relaxation massage, medication, acupuncture, and physical therapy. Additionally, one can buy a fascia and muscle relaxant device. The symptoms may improve for a while but will chronically recur because the root cause has not been solved. “Office Syndrome” is an ailment that takes time to accumulate. By the time one notices the symptoms, they are already suffering and healing takes time. One of the main reasons is poor posture and prolonged sitting. Therefore, the proper sitting position is one way to prevent office syndrome. Nipaporn Akrakittichok, Biomedical Sciences Program, Chulalongkorn Graduate School and Phuriphat Wawngernngam, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences explained the initial concept of DynaSeat, an innovative behavioral adjustment seat to prevent office syndrome that just won a Gold Medal and Very Good Award in a Collegiate Innovation Contest 2020 at the Thailand Research Expo 2020. According to the research team, DynaSeat has three main components: an inflatable seat, a controller, and an application with two functions designed to adjust sitting behavior. “The first function is Dynaseat that will inflate the air into the seat forcing the users to move when they are uncomfortable, unbalanced, or sitting poorly for too long. A red light indicates that the user should correct the sitting position. Report of user’s sitting behavior is available in real-time on the application on how the user sits — crouching, leans to the left, or crossed-legged, for example. The analysis is done by pressure sensors that measure the pressure of the airbag in the seat, so the users can learn how to adjust their sitting posture to prevent stiffness. Once the posture is correct, the indicator will turn green,” said Nipaporn. The other function is DynaRest which reminds the user to get up after a while. “When the Dynaseat user has been sitting for a long time, the system will remind the user to get up and take a break from work. A timer is set to see if the user is away for less or more time than specified by the program. Increments will be rolled over to the next cycle. This program allows the user to move and not to sit still for prolonged periods of time.” Nipaporn cited the results of the experiment that Dynaseat prevented up to 70 percent neck pain and 80 percent back pain in the samples who tried the smart seat. “We also tested people with neck pain from office syndrome, and found that using Dynaseat, along with physical therapy, improved neck pain problem for patients in as little as 1 month, compared to the typical 2 months most of the patients would usually need for symptoms to subside.” Using Dynaseat, along with physical therapy, improved neck pain problem for patients in as little as 1 month This research project came under the supervision of Professor Dr. Prawit Janwantanakul, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, and received support from Chulalongkorn University Technology Center (UTC), Srithai Auto Seats Industry Co., Ltd., and Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI). At the moment, Dynaseat is in the commercial development process to come up with a marketable design at an affordable price for consumers. In the future, we are planning to expand the project to cover other areas such as airplane seats, public transportation, movie theatres, etc.,” concluded Nipaporn. To read the original article click here.

The post Goodbye to Back Pain with “DynaSeat” – an Office Syndrome Behavior Adjustment Seat appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.