3 Gadgets That Cause Spinal Problems

Many people think back problems are a problem of the older people. No wonder we usually make fun of young people who have a back problem. Bad news, you are also prone to getting spinal problems, thanks to our modern lifestyle. How come?

Modern technology a.k.a gadgets are inseparable from our lives today. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, whatever they may be, are around us 24/7. We are so dependant on them that we tend to create our own virtual world where everything is only one click away. Shopping, online transactions, even socializing can now be done online. That means you are deprived from almost all physical activities to keep you healthy.

If you are one of those gadget-junkies that you often sit around all day doing all your activities online, be ready for spinal problems. FIMELA.com interviewed Neil Furuno, D.C., one of the chiropractorsin Chiropractic Indonesia to tell us why.

“Usually, spinal problems occur because of our own “fault”. The pain is a sign that something wrong is happening to your body. It is also an impact of the problems in your spine. The culprit is actually your body position when you are using your smartphones, tablets, and laptops.” Neil explained.

Notice your head and body position while you are using your gadgets? Your head is always on forward position right? When you use your laptop, you tend to slouch and bow your head because the laptop screen is below your eye level and you just subconsciously slouch. These habits are the causes of your spinal problems and back pain.

“Wrong sitting position while operating smartphones, tablets, or laptops, combined with being physically inactive are the main reasons people suffer from back pain. When you put your head down, your head will automatically fall towards the ground because of gravity and that means the spine around your neck (cervical spine) opposes its natural position (cervical spine should be in a  “pulled back” position). These habits cause the spine to shift and back pain then becomes unavoidable.” Neil said.

So what should we do if our job demands us to use gadgets all the time? “Well, we cannot deny our needs for gadgets, but we certainly can avoid the bad impacts by starting the good habits. Get up from your seat every hour or so to relax your body. If you are even too busy to get up, just do some stretching for a few seconds. Stretch your arms to the side and bend your chest forward while breathing slowly. This stretching moves are useful to put your spine back in place after sitting and slouching all day. What’s important is to keep your lower back straight. Use a cushion to support your lower back and keep it in perfect position,” Neil advised.

Now that you know the causes of your back pain, fix your posture and take a rest regularly. What’s going to happen in the future if you keep the bad habit up? “It is likely you will suffer from bone calcification,” Neil ended the interview. Sounds scary! We will definitely fix the way we sit, what about you?

Source: www.fimela.com edited by Gold's Gym Indonesia