Beyond neck and shoulder tension, prolonged poor posture can contribute to sciatica, dizziness/vertigo, TMJD, carpal tunnel, headaches, and even digestive changes.
I treat a lot of neck pain and downstream musculoskeletal complaints! Acupuncture is wonderfully effective in these cases, but when our working posture consistently triggers pain or numbness, it may be time to consider regular posture checks and exercises.
I shared this computer work ergonomics resource in the early pandemic when many of us were suddenly working from home without the support of our work-office gear. I think most of us could benefit from an annual ergonomics check.
To help yourself even further, apply self-massage. Warm up areas of tension with heat, apply a bit of oil to your skin, and gently scrape along tight muscle fibers with a gua sha tool. Give it a go – do what feels good!
When posture checks and self-massage don’t relieve pain, consider a series of 4-6 weekly acupuncture treatments. By releasing muscle tension, allowing flow in the fascia, and relaxing your system, acupuncture treatments can unwind patterns of pain, numbness, or tingling. Continuing with posture checks and planning for acupuncture maintenance care when needed will keep you out of pain.
Betsy Gordon Acupuncture in Portland, Oregon specializes in holistic dermatology and the treatment of digestive, autoimmune, and allergic conditions. She provides a treatment plan which brings together traditional Chinese and functional medicine approaches.
