Artists usually suffer from having back, neck and shoulder pains which significantly affect their productivity and work quality. Looking at the computer or canvass for hours with only a few movements can strain their muscles and cause pain.
Sometimes, this trifles can become dangerous and inflame the spinal bones and muscles; that’s why it’s important to take serious measures to get rid of these pains.
There are a lot of supplemental aid that can give an immediate fix to back and neck pains. But there are also natural ways that can help artists get rid of it. Below are three of the most efficient strategies to forget about upper back and neck pain for good.
Sit Right, Move Right
Have you not thought that the way you sit or move is the main culprit of all your physical agony? It’s probably the most obvious reason of all, but if you want to forget about them for life, you should change the way you are sitting down and moving.
You should always maintain proper posture and body alignment when sitting, working, and moving. If you do this, you’ll save your neck and upper back from an unnecessary weight that can damage it.
Body alignment is a common need, but it has a personal approach. You can consult medical professionals like physical therapists or chiropractors to help you know more about your body alignment.
Pretty much everyone with a desk job suffers from this problem, but not as problematic as artists. As an artist you will always have your preferable position whenever you are drawing, sketching, or painting something. But if you could train yourself to sit right you will be more at ease when doing something. You should keep your devices at eye level, this way you are not putting the unnecessary weight that can strain your neck and back muscles.
Pause, Stretch, and Ice
You probably couldn’t count anymore how many times you do this in a day, but you might not be giving it enough attention. If you are going to pause and stretch, spend sufficient time to get your muscles and neck to rest.
Instead of just sitting down and relaxing, apply a cold compress or an ice pack in the area where you think hurts. It gives you an immediate relief but doing this regularly, will be able to reduce or prevent further swelling of your neck, back and shoulder muscles.
It is also important to pause because when you keep on pushing your neck muscles to work, there’s a tendency for the tendons or ligaments holding it to break and cause you more harm. A neck strain happens when one or more ligaments in the neck muscles are injured and when this happens the flexibility and movement of your neck will be affected.
Not only that the neck will get hurt, the pain will radiate into the shoulder and the shoulder blade, so it is important to pause for awhile when you feel it is needed.
Sleep In the Right Manner
This is also one of the basics, but it is usually one of the most neglected. You could sleep on your left or your right. Sleeping styles have their scientific backbone, but during the night, your body is going to get into the direction it finds comfortable.
It might be a little difficult to keep yourself reminded about the strategies on how to sleep right, but you can train your mind to remind yourself and be conscious of your sleeping movements.
Once you decide to be in bed, you should determine yourself to sleep. Don’t bring your work in bed, don’t open your social media accounts, emails or anything that would hinder you to sleep right away. The key to better sleeping is to make sure your bed is associated solely for the purpose of sleep and not anything else.
Bringing your devices in bed can also cause strain on your neck and shoulder muscles. It would be best to leave your work and social media life on your desk.
Therefore, when in bed, sleep.
Exercise Regularly and Eat Healthily
These are probably one of the things you keep on your checklist, and the only goals left undone. But these two tips will surely do your life wonders, as you maybe know well. If going to the gym intimidates you, you can do regular exercises at home or even just jog around your neighborhood.
Do this with moderation, because too much can also strain your muscles. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) happens two to three days after a heavy exercise, and this could hinder you to move your body well until your muscles can fully repair themselves, which could even take a week or so.
Eating healthy is also important when you plan to start your exercising game. Eat food that would help suffice your daily calcium needs. People whose job entails more sitting and less mobility are prone to degenerative bone diseases, like disc degeneration and kyphosis.
That is why it is important to keep your bones healthy while you are still young.
Meet The Doc
If the pain is severe, it is best to consult a medical professional. Especially when the pain you experience has been a long term agony that is getting worse.
In severe cases, they will offer you to go under the knife. There are also other options where you don’t have to go on a surgery like Chiropractors. They can educate you about proper posture and how to sit right when working, on a more personal approach.
Author Bio:
Melissa K Symmonds is a certified Recreational Therapist and a Chiropractic Enthusiast. She is passionate about helping and educating the young generation about proper posture and work desk practices. She is currently connected with Papa Chiropractic, a Chiropractor in Port St Lucie, Fl.