Richmond Back and Neck Pain due to Things like Sitting or Doing Computer Work

December 21, 2022

Working on a computer for for too long. Sitting too long. Flexing over a project for a long time. Many positional issues may initiate back pain or neck pain. Spine researchers discuss flexion relaxation ratios (FRR) and flexion relaxation phenomena (FRP) that occur with such back and neck irritations.  Johnson Chiropractic is ready to help reduce Richmond neck pain and back pain with our chiropractic services as well as help troubleshoot ways to reduce the risk of pain when doing movements you must do often or things you want to do occasionally but know they are going to hurt your back or neck.

LUMBAR SPINE and LOW BACK PAIN: Sitting

The curiosity of spinal pain researchers brings about some interesting questions like does sitting for an hour bring about pain in patients with a history of back pain (but don’t have back pain currently) versus those without. They did not see a difference in the flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) they measured but think that may be because an hour wasn’t long enough to trigger pain in the history-of-back-pain patients. (1) Hum? A reduction of the paraspinal muscle activity at maximum flexion demonstrates the related flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP). An analysis of 48 published studies on this topic noted that nonspecific low back pain patients’ FRP was modified. Compared to asymptomatic patients, this difference was significant. (2) Johnson Chiropractic looks at these types of issues when examining our Richmond back pain patients and neck pain patients.

CERVICAL SPINE and NECK PAIN

FRP and FRR can be quantified in neck pain patients as well. In comparison to the lumbar spine’s FRP and FFR, cervical spine muscle reaction differences were noted in patients with pain versus volunteers who don’t have pain. The cervical flexion relaxation phenomenon was seen in neck extensor muscles when in flexion. Persistent muscle contraction due to diminished flexion relaxation places vertebral structures at risk due to excessive loading. 84% of healthy subjects showed FRP while only 36% of in-pain patients did. FRR was less in neck pain patientsas well. (3) Further, when contrasting computer workers with neck pain to those without neck pain to those who do not computer work, researchers concluded that computer use could raise the use of the semispinalis capitis during neck extension, making it a possible predictor of symptomatic neck musculoskeletal disorders as its initiation was seen in both types of computer users’ necks. (4) Such a finding is helpful to healthcare providers like your chiropractor to see what this muscle does on extension and advise our patients on how to improve the cervical extensor muscles.

RELIEF FOR NECK AND BACK PAIN

Cox® Technic is gentle, relieving Richmond chiropractic treatment for back and neck pain. Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Sean Delahunt on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he shares the effective, gentle treatment with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for his patient with neck pain.   

CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic

Make your next Richmond chiropractic appointment with Johnson Chiropractic. For relief of spine pain due to positional activities, our treatment plan decreases the pain and shares tips on how to lessen the risk of pain while doing what you want and have to do. 

 
a person Richmond bending over a computer holding her back due to pain