Can Chiropractic Care Treat Headaches Due to Screen Time?
If you’re one of the many who spend 8 hours, sometimes longer, on a computer or tablet every day, you might experience headaches related to that screen time. This is one of the more frequent complaints among those who sit at a desk and scroll for countless hours. The good news is that many of these headaches are due to the breakdown in our posture from being in the same position for prolonged periods – meaning they can be treated with the right type of care.
What is the Correlation Between Screen Time and Headaches?
Most of these headaches are not coming solely from strain on the eyes, but the positioning of your neck and upper back as well.
Several postural breakdowns can occur during long periods at a desk:
- Your head moves forward
- You develop rounded shoulders
- Your upper back tightens up
- The muscles in your nek start to overwork
- Tight muscles in your chest
Every inch of forward head movement, about 10 pounds of pressure are added to the surrounding musculature and joints. When this is repeated over long periods of time, this can cause:
- Muscle fatigue
- Joint restriction
- Nerve pain
- Fascial trigger points
All possible contributors to headaches.
Common Types of Headaches:
Tension type headaches
This is the most common. It usually feels like there is a bad type of pressure that forms around the top of the head or pressure that is felt at the base of the skull. There is a link to shoulder and neck tension.
Cervicogenic Headaches
This type of headache comes from the neck muscles and joints and is often felt behind the eyes, head, and temples.
Eye Strain
These headaches occur from focusing on a screen for too long or poor lighting that is either too dark or bright. Neck tension can also contribute to these types of headaches.
Chiropractic Care for Screen Time Related Headaches – Can it Help?
The purpose of the Chiropractic adjustment is to create mobility in the spine which can in turn reduce tension on the muscles and improve posture. Improving restrictions in the joints of the neck and upper back can help to restore proper motion and can reduce the strain being placed on the muscles.
Common tight musculature addressed from constant screen time:
- Suboccipitals
- Pectoralis major/minor
- Levator scapulae
- Upper Trapezius
- Rhomboids
Addressing these muscles can decrease both the intensity and frequency of headaches.
Corrective exercise prescribed by a Chiropractor can help strengthen muscles that can become weakened due to poor posture over time and allow for them to activate and keep the spine in proper position. Some of the muscles that become weak include:
- Upper back
- Core
- Scapular stabilizers
- Deep neck flexors
Ergonomics
Making proper changes to your workstation can make a world of difference.
- All screens at eye level
- Feet planted on the floor and not dangling
- Lumbar support for the lower back
- Mouse and keyboard are close, so you are not reaching
- Make sure to take a break and stand up every hour
Your Chiropractor can assist you in making the correct changes to your workstation.
When is it Time to Seek Care?
It is a good time to consider seeing your Chiropractor when:
- Headaches become more frequent
- Headaches become more intense
- Chronic stiffness is felt after prolonged screen time
- You notice your posture is breaking down
A thorough orthopedic examination and X-rays (if needed) are helpful in determining if your headaches are coming from tension in the muscles, poor posture, or somewhere else.