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Increasing use of laptops, smartphones and tablets is causing many people to spend a significant amount of time in a hunched position, according to Dr. Nnaemeka Echebiri, a physiatrist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. This poor posture can result in back and neck pain, as well as a round-shouldered position known as dowager’s hump, which is a curvature at the base of the neck. Those who work at desks are particularly susceptible, leading to questions about how to combat this issue.
One of the biggest risk factors for developing a dowager’s hump is working on a computer, though this doesn’t mean it’s unavoidable. Only when such activities are done regularly without proper exercises to correct posture can they lead to malalignment. Sedentary lifestyles and poor ergonomics further increase the risk, explains Dr. Kasey Komperda, an Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine.
Other factors such as aging, genetics and certain health conditions like osteoporosis and Cushing syndrome can also increase the chances of developing this condition. However, it can be prevented with proper ergonomic setups, supportive chairs, and postural correction exercises. Further, activities such as short walks around the office or house can make a big difference.
A dowager’s hump can also cause neck pain, migraines and negatively impact self-esteem; in most cases, though, it is reversible. For desk workers, awareness of posture is the first step towards correction, followed by implementing ergonomics at work, getting the right desk equipment and doing exercises to improve strength and mobility.
Komperda concludes on a hopeful note, stating that the condition is reversible in most people, and can certainly be prevented with proper measures.
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