If you think that your laptop and all those prolonged sitting are making you sick, and giving you a stiff neck and back pain, think again! A study has revealed that these are not new technological concerns. Researchers studying the skeletal remains of ancient Egyptian scribes have found that sitting and working have been giving us aches and pains for centuries. These skeletons were buried in Abusir between 2700 and 2180 BCE and their structures reveal how this is not a new problem.

The skeletal remains of 69 adult males were studied of which 30 were scribes. It was deduced that they were scribes based on their tomb style and decoration. The remaining 39 were ancient labourers. The results show 40 statistically significant differences between the regular males and the scribes. An increased degeneration in the neck vertebrae was the main issue that jumped out. This means that neck pain was a common suffering shared by our ancient scribes.

The researchers wrote in the paper published in Scientific Reports, “In a typical scribe’s working position, the head had to be forward, and the spine flexed, changing the centre of gravity of the head and putting stress on the spine."

Sitting hunched over something with the head bent forward to look at something horizontally means that the “load moment for the [neck vertebrae] induced by the weight of the head and neck increases 3.6 times in comparison to the neutral position."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/archaeologist-uncover-city-of-the-dead-with-more-than-300-tombs-report-736825">Archaeologists uncover ‘City of the Dead’ with more than 300 tombs: Report</a>

The right shoulder, clavicle, and the right thumb also showed signs of wear and tear. “Stress to the rotator cuff […] usually occurs when the arm is in an elevated position, such as among painters," they wrote.

<h2>What really stood out?</h2>

The main point that the authors noticed was changes&nbsp;in the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. This is the hinge where your jaw meets your skull.

In both modern and archaeological samples, osteoarthritis in the TMJ has been seen at about 40 per cent. However, in the samples of the scribes, it has been found to be more than twice&nbsp;the rest of the skeletons. This means that two out of every three scribes witnessed this problem in the TMJ.&nbsp;

Their tools were primarily to be blamed. “The tools that scribes used to write were made from rush […] which was cut at a slant and chewed at the end to form a brush-like head,” the authors explain. “When the pen became ragged or clogged with ink, the scribe cut off the end again and chewed the next section.”

If you think that your laptop and all those prolonged sitting are making you sick, and giving you a stiff neck and back pain, think again! A study has revealed that these are not new technological concerns.

If you think that your laptop and all those prolonged sitting are making you sick, and giving you a stiff neck and back pain, think again! A study has revealed that these are not new technological concerns. Researchers studying the skeletal remains of ancient Egyptian scribes have found that sitting and working have been giving us aches and pains for centuries. These skeletons were buried in Abusir between 2700 and 2180 BCE and their structures reveal how this is not a new problem. The skeletal remains of 69 adult males were studied of which 30 were scribes. It was deduced that they were scribes based on their tomb style and decoration. The remaining 39 were ancient labourers. The results show 40 statistically significant differences between the regular males and the scribes. An increased degeneration in the neck vertebrae was the main issue that jumped out. This means that neck pain was a common suffering shared by our ancient scribes. The researchers wrote in the paper published in Scientific Reports, “In a typical scribe’s working position, the head had to be forward, and the spine flexed, changing the centre of gravity of the head and putting stress on the spine." Sitting hunched over something with the head bent forward to look at something horizontally means that the “load moment for the [neck vertebrae] induced by the weight of the head and neck increases 3.6 times in comparison to the neutral position." Also Read: Archaeologists uncover ‘City of the Dead’ with more than 300 tombs: Report The right shoulder, clavicle, and the right thumb also showed signs of wear and tear. “Stress to the rotator cuff […] usually occurs when the arm is in an elevated position, such as among painters," they wrote. What really stood out? The main point that the authors noticed was changes in the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. This is the hinge where your jaw meets your skull. In both modern and archaeological samples, osteoarthritis in the TMJ has been seen at about 40 per cent. However, in the samples of the scribes, it has been found to be more than twice the rest of the skeletons. This means that two out of every three scribes witnessed this problem in the TMJ. Their tools were primarily to be blamed. “The tools that scribes used to write were made from rush […] which was cut at a slant and chewed at the end to form a brush-like head,” the authors explain. “When the pen became ragged or clogged with ink, the scribe cut off the end again and chewed the next section.”

Ancient Egyptian writers also hunched over devices and suffered the consequences

A pain in the neck happens to be the fourth leading cause of disability globally, lagging behind ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection. Neck pain can interfere with daily life, including the ability to feel productive, sleep, and enjoy time with family. It is a common occurrence among the working population usually engaged in tech jobs or desk jobs. 
 
 
Srikanth H.S, Sr. Naturopath, Jindal Naturecure Institute, points out that there are several factors that can result in neck pain like stress, poor posture, obesity, muscle inflammation, arthritis, and injuries. 
 
"The best way to deal with neck pain is to minimise it in the first place. Naturopathy offers safe and effective alternatives to deal with neck pain without falling prey to the side-effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Blending in the goodness of natural therapies like yoga, massage, herbs, and acupuncture, along with lifestyle modifications, naturopathy can bring huge relief from neck pain," he says. 
 
Risks of Neck Pain 
 
The expert says:"The common causes of neck pain are muscle strain and nerve compression. However, the symptoms alone cannot indicate which one of these is occurring. Muscle strain usually results from poor posture, repeated lifting, sleep, stress, or anxiety. Nerve compression can occur when a disc in the spine slips out of its position and pinches or presses the nerves, or when the tissues in the neck get inflamed or swollen causing the nerves in the area to get squeezed. Whatever the cause, ongoing chronic neck pain shouldn`t be neglected as it can lead to a lifetime of disability or even permanent damage." 
 
He suggests naturopathy ways to treat neck pain: 
 
Yoga 
 
The ancient art of yoga has been demonstrated to help people with chronic pain including neck pain. Studies have shown that yoga asanas help to reduce pain perception, improves mobility, and decrease inflammation. Even 15 to 20 minutes of yoga exercises a day can relax the body, stretch the muscles, increase blood circulation, and minimise the chances of neck pain. Some of the common yoga asanas which can be practiced for neck pain are Marjariasana (Cat Pose), Bitilasana (Cow Pose), Balasana (Child`s Pose), Natarajasana (Reclining Twist Pose), Viparita Karani (Legs up the wall Pose), and Savasana (Corpse Pose). 
 
Massage 
 
Several studies have pointed out that massage therapy can offer relief from neck pain and improve range of motion when performed by qualified professionals. Massage therapy usually involves the use of the hands to manipulate soft tissues, like the tendons and muscles, increase blood circulation, and reduce muscle tension. It helps to ease up the sore, numb and stiff muscles in the spinal area and neck region. 
 
Herbs 
 
Herbal treatments have been used for ages to treat pains of different sorts. Herbal remedies can be sipped like tea, infused in the bathwater, used as an oil, or inhaled as aromatherapy. Devil`s Claw is a popular herb that can substantially reduce neck pain and even improve physical functioning in osteoarthritis patients. Other than that, Lavender, Kudzu, and St. John`s Wort are some of the most popular herbs that help relieve neck pain and lower back pain. For maximum effects, these herbs should be taken under the guidance of expert professionals. 
 
Acupuncture 
 
Acupuncture is a thousand of years old technique that involves pricks in the skin with needles at specific points on the body. The frequency and duration of acupuncture sessions may depend on how long the neck pain has already lasted, and also severity of the symptoms. Some studies have revealed that acupuncture can stimulate biochemical changes both locally (where the needles are placed) and in the central nervous system. These biochemical changes may help to bring pain relief and other beneficial effects in some cases. 
 
Lifestyle Modifications 
 
Lifestyle modifications play a significant role in the management of neck aches and stiffness. Practicing good posture while at work or home should be a key priority for those suffering from neck pain. Getting good sleep and maintaining the spine in a comfortable position throughout the night, regular neck exercises, and taking breaks in between work and stretching are some of the ways to reduce strain on the neck and keep it relaxed. 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

A pain in the neck happens to be the fourth leading cause of disability globally, lagging behind ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection.

A pain in the neck happens to be the fourth leading cause of disability globally, lagging behind ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection. Neck pain can interfere with daily life, including the ability to feel productive, sleep, and enjoy time with family. It is a common occurrence among the working population usually engaged in tech jobs or desk jobs. Srikanth H.S, Sr. Naturopath, Jindal Naturecure Institute, points out that there are several factors that can result in neck pain like stress, poor posture, obesity, muscle inflammation, arthritis, and injuries. "The best way to deal with neck pain is to minimise it in the first place. Naturopathy offers safe and effective alternatives to deal with neck pain without falling prey to the side-effects of pharmaceutical drugs. Blending in the goodness of natural therapies like yoga, massage, herbs, and acupuncture, along with lifestyle modifications, naturopathy can bring huge relief from neck pain," he says. Risks of Neck Pain The expert says:"The common causes of neck pain are muscle strain and nerve compression. However, the symptoms alone cannot indicate which one of these is occurring. Muscle strain usually results from poor posture, repeated lifting, sleep, stress, or anxiety. Nerve compression can occur when a disc in the spine slips out of its position and pinches or presses the nerves, or when the tissues in the neck get inflamed or swollen causing the nerves in the area to get squeezed. Whatever the cause, ongoing chronic neck pain shouldn`t be neglected as it can lead to a lifetime of disability or even permanent damage." He suggests naturopathy ways to treat neck pain: Yoga The ancient art of yoga has been demonstrated to help people with chronic pain including neck pain. Studies have shown that yoga asanas help to reduce pain perception, improves mobility, and decrease inflammation. Even 15 to 20 minutes of yoga exercises a day can relax the body, stretch the muscles, increase blood circulation, and minimise the chances of neck pain. Some of the common yoga asanas which can be practiced for neck pain are Marjariasana (Cat Pose), Bitilasana (Cow Pose), Balasana (Child`s Pose), Natarajasana (Reclining Twist Pose), Viparita Karani (Legs up the wall Pose), and Savasana (Corpse Pose). Massage Several studies have pointed out that massage therapy can offer relief from neck pain and improve range of motion when performed by qualified professionals. Massage therapy usually involves the use of the hands to manipulate soft tissues, like the tendons and muscles, increase blood circulation, and reduce muscle tension. It helps to ease up the sore, numb and stiff muscles in the spinal area and neck region. Herbs Herbal treatments have been used for ages to treat pains of different sorts. Herbal remedies can be sipped like tea, infused in the bathwater, used as an oil, or inhaled as aromatherapy. Devil`s Claw is a popular herb that can substantially reduce neck pain and even improve physical functioning in osteoarthritis patients. Other than that, Lavender, Kudzu, and St. John`s Wort are some of the most popular herbs that help relieve neck pain and lower back pain. For maximum effects, these herbs should be taken under the guidance of expert professionals. Acupuncture Acupuncture is a thousand of years old technique that involves pricks in the skin with needles at specific points on the body. The frequency and duration of acupuncture sessions may depend on how long the neck pain has already lasted, and also severity of the symptoms. Some studies have revealed that acupuncture can stimulate biochemical changes both locally (where the needles are placed) and in the central nervous system. These biochemical changes may help to bring pain relief and other beneficial effects in some cases. Lifestyle Modifications Lifestyle modifications play a significant role in the management of neck aches and stiffness. Practicing good posture while at work or home should be a key priority for those suffering from neck pain. Getting good sleep and maintaining the spine in a comfortable position throughout the night, regular neck exercises, and taking breaks in between work and stretching are some of the ways to reduce strain on the neck and keep it relaxed.

The risks of a neck-pain and how to manage it

neck-pain

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