Sitting at a desk and looking down at a phone hold the neck forward for hours. The neck and shoulder muscles stay tense, and in time come stiffness and aching, headaches, dizziness, even tingling in the arms.
How Chinese medicine sees it
Long strain blocks the flow of qi and blood in the meridians — “where there is blockage, there is pain” — and wind and cold make it come back. Treatment frees the meridians and relaxes the sinews.
How we treat it
- Acupuncture: points along the meridians and around the pain, to ease pain and tension
- Cupping: relaxes the shoulder and back muscles and dispels wind and cold
- Tuina and bone setting: releases tight tissue, adjusts small joints and improves forward head and rounded shoulders
Day to day
- Get up and move your neck and shoulders every 45 minutes
- Raise the screen to eye level
- Keep your neck warm and out of the air-conditioning draught
If tingling persists, you feel dizzy or the pain gets worse, come in and have it assessed.
