There’s no denying that excessive gaming can cause back pain due to prolonged sitting. Symptoms include a dull ache, stabbing or shooting sensation, discomfort, and fatigue. Of course, not every gaming enthusiast suffers such pain but if you do, there are proven strategies for alleviating and preventing injury. Here are five things you can do if gaming is causing you back pain.
1. Maintain good sitting posture
Gaming typically requires players to sit down behind their monitors most of the time. Some games like Elite Smash are highly interactive and can keep you sitting for long hours at a time. This prolonged sitting can result in poor posture and back pain. This is why it’s important to maintain a good sitting posture to help minimize the stress on your muscles and joints. This will also ensure that your joints are in correct alignment.
A good sitting position entails keeping your back straight and resting your arms evenly on the gaming desk, whilst ensuring your eyes stay level with the top of your monitor or laptop screen.
2. See a chiropractor
Don’t hesitate to see a chiropractor if you experience severe lower back, neck, vertigo, or shoulder pain. Chiropractors are experts in chiropractic medicine and chiropractic care works to maintain good spinal alignment. They employ different spinal adjustments techniques to treat low back pain.
Keep in mind that chiropractic treatment is not suitable for everyone. So, it would be best if you spoke to your provider to determine if you’re eligible for chiropractic treatment. Your provider may perform a series of X-rays and tests on you to properly assess the situation and determine the appropriate treatment option.
Finding the best chiropractic wellness center doesn’t have to be daunting. You can use web search engines to find a chiropractic practitioner close to you. Let’s say you live in Denver, you can Google “the best chiropractor in Denver” to find a specialist that provides exceptional care.
3. Try to exercise regularly
Studies show that staying sedentary causes the muscles around the back and spine to become weak. Various physical activities can help strengthen the muscles that support the spine, ultimately providing relief from pain in the back. While physical activities may be beneficial, not all may be suitable for you. Vigorous exercises often cause muscle strain and muscle spasms, so, try to speak with your gym instructor or physiotherapist to plan your workout routine according to the pain symptoms and intensity.
4. Consult a doctor
Ideally, most pains felt on the back get resolved on their own. However, if you suffer from chronic pain, you may need to consult a doctor before it deteriorates further. It also helps to consult with a licensed healthcare professional if you experience pain after sitting for long periods.
To help in diagnosis, the doctor may ask you to describe when it started, type of pain, and related symptoms. Sometimes, doctors may order X-rays, CT or MRI scans to correctly diagnose the source of lower back pain. Afterward, the medical practitioner proceeds to proffer effective treatments appropriate for you.
5. Adopt homecare remedies
Back pain has become more prevalent among gamers in recent years. As we mentioned earlier, back pain caused by muscle strain usually gets better on its own. However, you can take proactive steps by using home remedies for pain relief. For example, a warm bath or heating pad can provide momentary pain relief.
In addition to maintaining a good sitting posture, gamers who continuously experience nagging back pain should keep up with regular daily activities, or visit a chiropractor or GP if the pain worsens.
