...are a pain in the neck (just kidding). What I mean to say is that they can often suffer from neck pains due to their activities. I have recently had a number of clients who cycle regulary (for transportation or sport) and have office jobs. They come to see me regarding their neck and upper back pains.
Each case is individual, and some are complicated, with specific joint restrictions, nerve compression, muscle imbalances and faulty movement patterns. But the general factors leading to their injuries in the first place are quite simple:
Both their occupation and sport involve very similar postures in the cervical and thoracic spone, as well as the shoulder girdle and upper extremities. They use their bodies in the same ways, ie: stretching the same structures, loading the same structures, for hours on end. This can lead to chronic injury directly, or can predispose them to other injuries.
So, the very general rules for prevention of these problems are:
1) find the optimal posture for your body
2) vary positions through-out the day
3) stretch and do activites or sports that utilize the other natural body movements that may be neglected
These are very general and simple guidelines, but if everyone followed them, there would be less need to come see physiotherapy in the first place.
Harry
