how to reduce neck pain

It’s a dilemma that is facing thousands of CCIE students every day; how can I avoid neck pain when I have to spend hours and hours studying? Luckily there are a few easy tips and tricks to fix this problem, and for the most part they don’t cost a lot of money.  Some however take a bit of energy, but it’s energy well used and can keep your neck feeling great.

The first thing to keep in mind is that the neck, or rather the 7 cervical vertebrae that make up the part of the spine we call the neck, has a very special curve that some refer to as the ‘arc of life’.  It’s a curvature that we need to maintain in order to make sure that the nerves that branch off from the spinal cord don’t get pinched.  And therein lays the problem.

You see, when most people study they place their study material on a desk or on their lap, looking down at it the whole time. In this position, with the head bent down, the curve of the spine is forced into a flexing position.  If you held your head in this position for a few minutes there would be no problem, but when held in this awkward position for hours on end the nerves can become compressed and the first problem you will have is- you guessed it- neck pain.

So what can you do? Well, for starters when you are sitting you can place a large pillow on your lap to support your book at eye level.  If you are using a computer make sure that the screen is at eye level or even slightly higher.  A well designed chair is important, and proper posture is key.  Some people even find that a stand-up desk is better for them, but that depends on the individual.

The most important thing to remember is to always keep your head up and your eyes looking straight ahead. Your study material needs to be in front of you face and at eye level. If you can follow these simple rules, studying for hours on end won’t hurt your neck.

Although once you have it you can never fully cure neck pain, these tips will go a long way to control neck pain.

This is another study tip taken from the CCIE Blog of Roger Perkin UK Cisco Engineer