Sitting for long hours at the office desk while working on the laptop or computer is an invitation for postural issues and aches, from the neck and upper back to the lower back and even the lower limbs. Neck pain, experienced by a sizable percentage of working professionals every now and then, could be muscle fatigue or stiffness. This can be easily managed by stretches and in slightly more aggravated cases, physical therapy. However, this pain could also be cervicalgia, and brushing it aside as muscle stiffness could lead to bigger issues, say experts.
The cervical spine, comprising cervical vertebrae C1 to C7, not only supports the weight of the head but also facilitates its forwards, backward and sidewards movements. It also serves as a protection for the spinal cord.
What causes cervicalgia
The primary culprit that causes cervicalgia is bad posture.
“The cervical spine consists of seven vertebrae aligned in a C shape,” says Dr Jayesh Sardhara, senior consultant, neuro and spine surgery, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, Mumbai. “Its main function is to support the weight of the head. The erector spine muscles (muscles on the back of the neck) work to maintain its shape. Now, if someone is constantly sitting in an improper posture like in an office, where the head can be bent for long hours, the muscles on the back of the neck need to work more for maintaining the C shape. This leads to fatigue, pain and discomfort.”
Over time, the natural shape of the cervical spine straightens out, leading to aggravation in pain. It can be misinterpreted as neck stiffness, and cervicalgia, if ignored, can lead to cervical spondylosis or cause irreversible weakness in the hands and legs.
Improper posture and stress lead to cervicalgia, says Dr Sardhara.
“When it comes to pain, 70 per cent of it depends on the mechanical aspect of the causative factors and 30 per cent is the emotional component,” adds Dr Sardhara. “If someone is handling heightened emotions, the mechanical component of pain takes over. Moreover, the body has a compensatory mechanism, whereby the C shape of the cervical spine becomes straight over time — however, this is irreversible.”
Other causes of cervicalgia are physical strain, arthritis, incorrect workout posture, and improper head position while sleeping.
Symptoms of cervicalgia
Cervicalgia starts off with muscle spasms or pain in the neck along with discomfort, which can be corrected with physiotherapy sessions and posture correction. But in some cases, it can continue even after therapy.
If the pain persists and becomes intolerable, leads to weakness in the arms, and causes a pulse-like electric shock in the hands besides sensory loss in arms and legs, it could be the onset of cervicalgia. Delaying intervention could lead to spondylosis or disc collapse.
“For pain lasting less than six weeks caused by posture problems, analgesic drugs and physiotherapy sessions with rest are prescribed,” says Dr Sardhara. “But if the problem persists for over six weeks and symptoms are severe, an MRI of the cervical spine is advised for an accurate diagnosis. If there is spondylosis where the cervical spine has a diameter of less than 10 mm with compression of spinal cord and nerve, surgery is advised.”
How to prevent cervicalgia
- Do not sit in one position for a long time. At the office desk, keep the computer screen parallel to the eyes so that you don’t have to bend your neck while viewing.
- Take short intervals between work to stretch the neck muscles and give them rest.
- Maintain an appropriate sleeping posture.
- While watching TV or using a gadget, try and keep the neck in a neutral position so that the neck muscles are not strained.
- Stretching exercises and practising surya namaskar help in maintaining the natural shape of the spine, including the cervical spine.
Takeaways
- The improper posture of keeping the neck bent for long periods leads to cervicalgia (neck pain) as the erector spine muscles are forced to work more.
- Emotional stress along with improper posture can lead to the worsening of the condition. As the natural C shape of the cervical spine gets straightened, muscle tightness and permanent weakness in limbs can set in.
- Maintaining proper posture while working at your desk is the key to avoiding cervicalgia.
