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Ask HN: How do you deal with neck strain?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with neck strain?

#3
Better posture in the first place.

Chances are that your monitor is too low. Especially if you’re using a laptop. Try getting an external keyboard and mouse and keeping the midpoint of your monitor 30-ish inches above the keyboard.

If you still find yourself tilting your neck forward to the monitor, get your vision checked.

Finally, be cognizant of dropping your head forward to look at your phone. Instead raise your phone up and forward so you can keep your head fully upright while using it.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with neck strain?

#4
(Repost from the first version of the question)

bit OT but regular swimming has done wonders for my back pains. It developed my abs / lumbar belt as well as back and shoulder muscles. The swimming movements (crawl / backstroke) also tend to stretch and generally unkink muscles and vertebrae. When I stretch after swimming, I literally feel my spine popping back into place (I.e., swimming relaxes the relevant muscles enough that I can undo the damages of a sedentary job and carrying a toddler in my arms every day). I don’t know if this would help directly with neck pains but it would definitely improve posture, so probably an indirect positive effect.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with neck strain?

#5
post #3

Better posture in the first place. Chances are that your monitor is too low. Especially if you’re using a laptop. Try getting an external keyboard and mouse and keeping the midpoint of your monitor 30-ish inches above the keyboard. If you still find yourself tilting your neck forward to the monitor, get your vision checked. Finally, be cognizant of dropping your head forward to look at your phone. Instead raise your…

I second getting your vision checked, you wouldn’t believe the mechanical strain you can unconsciously put on your body to correct bad eyesight.

Re: Ask HN: How do you deal with neck strain?

#10
A titanium bracket and bone grafts. Years and years of looking down and, to some extent, poor posture led to two discs in my neck bursting and I had three vertebra fused together. Although I am fine, now, I try and always use a separate monitor, close to eye level.

Right now, the top 25% is at a "level" eye level; but, I don't need to move my head to see the lower half of the screen. If I slouch in my chair, it's at eye level.