Can Too Much Sitting Be Causing My Neck Pain?

Your body was NOT designed to sit all day. Increased periods of sitting tends to lead to increased slouching. Slouching increases the forces transmitted through your neck exponentially. When we sit for long periods, the muscles that support our spine start shutting down, making it harder to support our bodies. Then, these muscles and joints can feel stiff and sore.

Don't Be Static. Don't Be Uninteresting. Don't Let Sitting be Causing You Neck Pain

The dictionary definition of static is,

"lacking in movement, action, or change, especially in a way viewed as undesirable or uninteresting."

Movement creates circulation in both muscles and joints. Sitting still with little movement causes the fluid in our bodies to remain static. The less fluid movement the less circulation and we begin to feel stiff. Our bodies are made of roughly 60% water. We can influence this water and use that fact to our advantage. All the tissues in our neck that include the discs, muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments and joints need nutrition to be healthy. A big part of that nutrition is water.

The solution is EASY. Set a timer for every 30 minutes to change positions, stand up and walk or even have an "exercise snack". This will keep the blood and fluid moving in the muscles and joints throughout the body and ward off stiffness and soreness before it starts. Stop letting sitting for to long cause your neck pain! Turns out it will make you more interesting too!

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About The Author

Meet Dr. Dawn, a dedicated doctor of physical therapy since 1995. She became an orthopedic specialist in 2000 with an Orthopedic Manual Therapy Certification and earned a Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy from Oakland University in 2016 demonstrating a strong commitment to lifelong learning. Dawn opened her own practice in 2020, offering concierge physical therapy services to the Metro Detroit area.

Dawn has extensive experience working with a diverse range of patients facing both orthopedic and neurological challenges, as well as high performing athletes. However she has a strong passion and vast knowledge for working on the spine. Her years of dedicated practice and advanced training have equipped her with remarkable skills in movement assessment and rehabilitation. She takes pride in guiding clients through all stages of recovery—from post-injury or surgery rehabilitation, to  adventure travel preparation and golf performance.

Dawn was a triple sport collegiate athlete competing in diving, sailing, and gymnastics. Post college, Dawn has participated in many athletic events: fitness competitions, triathlon and ironman competitions, open water swimming and backpacking. She has overcome many of her own injuries and setbacks, most recently a total knee replacement. She has applied  her expertise into her own recovery which enables her to relate to her clients in a unique and compassionate way.

Her passion is to spread the message of empowering people to live active lives and extend their living-well years to the max, through movement. Dawn walks the talk.