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5 Causes of Your Chronic Neck and Back Pain

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Neck and back pains are something virtually everyone experiences in their lifetime. Our lives have changed a great deal over recent centuries, and unfortunately, this has put new strains on our backs and necks that weren’t so prevalent in days gone by. 

While neck and back pain can manifest in many ways, they often boil down to a number of different causes that stem from our lifestyles. 

Here are 5 common causes for your chronic neck and back pain. 

Daily Routines 

For many people, the majority of the day is spent sat down at a desk, hunched over a computer screen and keyboard. This is in stark contrast to centuries of human existence where we spent our lives doing much more active undertakings. 

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We’re simply not made to sit down all day and our backs and necks tend to suffer as a result. 

Poor Posture 

All this sitting down can lead to bad posture which puts extra pressure on the neck and spine. When you’re sitting down for long periods of time, you want to be comfortable, and supporting your back and neck through good posture becomes an afterthought.

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While improving your posture won’t necessarily solve all your problems, it’s a great place to start if you’re looking to improve chronic back and neck pain. Remember, you don’t have to be sat down to work, so take as many opportunities as you can to stand up and stretch out, and when you are sat down, try and keep your posture in mind. If your doctor has exhausted all diagnostic options, it’s time to seek a second opinion from a lower back pain specialists.

Leisure Activities 

When we do get done with work and away from the computer many of us take part in sporting activities. However, lots of these sports, can be high impact on the body. While there are clearly positive benefits to the exercise, this activity can lead to injuries that result in back pain. 

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Your body is highly inter-connected and even something as simple as tight hamstrings can lead to back pain. Physical activity is highly beneficial, but you must be aware of your body and make sure you’re looking after it. 

Overweight 

The modern lifestyle has made it more difficult to maintain optimal body weight. When you’re active throughout the day, keeping in shape becomes much easier, but when you’re stuck at a desk, keeping trim is much more difficult.

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Carrying some extra pounds can add extra stress to your back and neck though, and healthy weight loss can help to relieve your pain. Help for chronic pain is available and can help relieve your symptoms as you work towards optimal health. 

Stress

Another gift of modern life that can cause neck and back pain is stress. We all lead busy, often stressful lives, and this stress can cause the muscles in our backs and necks to tighten, leading to pain in the area. 

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There are techniques that can help you manage the stress in your life and limit the negatives effects of it, and these can really help your neck and back pains.