In this digital age, a lot of people suffer from bad posture. Stress in the neck and upper back can result from using computers, sitting for extended periods of time, or looking down at phones. These habits may eventually result in noticeable postural changes that may have an impact on your overall appearance and spinal health. Neck humps are a common result of bad postures. We’ll go over what a neck hump is, why it occurs, and how chiropractic care can help manage this condition in this blog.
What is a Neck Hump?
An abnormal outward curvature at the base of the neck, is commonly referred to as neck hump or dowager’s hump. When the curve becomes excessive, you may notice a visible hump. Now, this condition can be seen in people of all ages and genders.
When having this condition, people occasionally struggle with concomitant upper back stiffness, neck pain, headaches, and reduced shoulder mobility. Many people also experience fatigue and discomfort because of related muscle imbalances.
What are the Causes of a Neck Hump?
Neck hump or Dowager’s hump can be caused by many factors.
- If you sit for long periods in poor posture, you may experience a hunched back and neck hump.
- Weak muscles in the upper back and tightness in the neck and chest can worsen the condition.
- Lack of physical activity, previous spinal injuries, spinal degeneration, and osteoporosis can also contribute to this condition.
- When you hunch your shoulders, it can also contribute to this condition.
When these causes are left unaddressed, these habits contribute to abnormal spinal alignment.
How Can Chiropractic Care Help?
Chiropractors, like our doctors at Agape Chiropractic Hong Kong, specialize in restoring proper postural alignment and function of the spine and surrounding muscles. Hong Kong Chiropractor follow a holistic approach to treat this condition.
- We use the spinal adjustments also know as spinal manipulative therapy. These targeted adjustments help in improving joint mobility in the cervical and thoracic spine to let the spine move naturally and improve muscle tone in areas that may help proper postural alignment. By reducing stiffness, these gentle adjustments can also help alleviate pain.
- We also use soft tissue therapies to help with tight muscles and connective tissues. Treatments like myofascial release can help relax overactive muscles in the chest and neck, making it easy for the spine to maintain a healthy posture.
Postural Correction and Rehabilitation Exercises
Postural training and corrective exercises also play an important role in correcting a neck hump/ dowager’s hump. We educate patients on proper standing, sitting, and sleeping postures to help prevent further progression of the condition.
Specific exercises are typically suggested to strengthen weakened muscles in the upper back, shoulders and neck while stretching tight muscles. Over time, these exercises can help bring balance to the muscles in the upper body, offering better support for your spine. Patients actively following good postures, exercises and treatments can achieve good results within several months.
Lifestyle and Ergonomic Guidance
Lifestyle changes also play an important role in the correction of neck hump/ dowager’s hump. We usually assess a patient’s daily habits and movement patterns. Simple lifestyle changes like using supportive chairs, adjusting screen height, or taking regular movement breaks can improve your posture. Patients also need to stay physically active and take care of their muscle and bone health through appropriate exercise and nutrition.
Long-Term Benefits of Chiropractic Care
You can experience improvements in posture, reduced pain, and increased mobility with early intervention and personalized treatment plan. While severe posture misalignment may not be completely reversible, chiropractic care might help slow progression and improve appearance.
Conclusion
Chiropractic care is a natural and non-invasive solution that can identify and symptoms and possible causes of neck hump/ dowager’s hump. By supporting healthier movement patterns, chiropractors, like our doctors at Agape Chiropractic Hong Kong, can help patients move better and reduce the appearance of neck hump/ dowager’s hump.
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