Computer injuries and the Alexander Technique? What’s that? You’ve heard of football injuries, and boxing injuries and even tennis injuries, but computer injuries? What does the Alexander Technique have to do with injuring yourself with a computer?  Boxing and football share an injury caused by blows to the head; concussions. You can’t really get a concussion using a computer, as far as I know. However, you can injure yourself very seriously at the computer. Computers, or how we use them, can cause neck pain ranging from mild to oppressive. My severe neck pain was caused by how I was unconsciously looking forward and down at the screen, along with looking forward and down at a musical instrument. I don’t know where I’d be today if I hadn’t stumbled upon the Alexander Technique. Perhaps I’d be on my second or third operation, because I’d still be using the computer the same way after the operation as before. Once one level  (C6-C7 for example) was ‘fixed’ during surgery, I might have to go back to get C5-C6 ‘fixed’.

Some people hurt their backs sitting at the computer all day. As an Alexander Technique teacher I’m seeing this injury constantly. People are in so much pain they have to occasionally stay home from work. In fact, one of the most common causes people miss work is back pain, along with headaches, which can also be a computer related ‘injury’. I was getting headaches which were hard to distinguish from my neck aches. Even if the pain is not enough to consider surgery, it can certainly interfere with your quality of life.

Carpal Tunnel and other hand issues including repetitive strain injuries are often caused by how we use the computer. In my case compressing my neck caused numbness, tingling and pain all the way down to my hand.                            

The Alexander Technique is the good news. I teach, show, and coach almost everyone who comes to me how to use the computer without injury. If people are in pain already I teach them how to stop injuring themselves, and the steps to take to allow the body to heal. You could try it right now. See if you can notice any neck tension. It’s there, though you may not be able to sense it at this point. However you can learn to let these muscles go. If you release your neck muscles, your head will rotate forward, and move up. You could think this way: I want my neck to be free so that my head will move forward and up. This ‘forward’ business doesn’t mean forward as in your face moving towards the screen; in fact it’s the opposite. The forward is a forward rotation of the head achieved by letting your neck muscles release and slightly lowering your nose, while the crown of your head moves up. As you’re thinking about that, let your sit bones move down in the chair in opposition to your head and torso moving up. Let your shoulders rest on your ribcage and rid yourself of any extra tension in your arms and hands.

Mark Josefsberg-Alexander Technique NYC

Mark@MarkJosefsberg.com

Call Mark@  269-POSTURE

or 917.709.4648

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