Technology Bites: Ease 5 Common Tech-Related Pains with Spa

Let’s not get technical here—the persisting back aches from sitting for hours at the computer, the neck discomfort from bending over the tablet, the thumb cramps from excessive texting are, quite frankly, a pain. So what’s a technology-junkie-slash-smartphone-lover-slash-iPad-devourer supposed to do? Aside from giving up your smartphone, laptop, etc. (let’s face it, that won’t happen), when it gets to be a bit too much, eliminate the tech-related pains with a visit to the spa.

The Pain Problem: Backache
The Spa Solution: One of the benefits of massage is that it can decrease chronic pain. As we’ve written before: Massage activates nerve receptor signals to temporarily block chronic pain signals from reaching the brain. It also releases endorphins (the body’s natural painkiller) into the brain and nervous system to reduce pain and discomfort without the use of medication.

The Pain Problem: Pain in the neck
The Spa Solution: Acupressure
Acupressure proved effective for short-term neck pain relief in an experimental study at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. During the trial, patients participated in an eight-session, three-week period and used lavender aromatherapy oil.

The Pain Problem: Headache
The Spa Solution: Craniosacral therapy
Craniosacral therapy is designed to improve the central nervous system’s role via balancing the fluid and membranes surrounding both the brain and spinal cord; it’s used to treat various conditions such as headache, stress, and head, neck, and back pain.

The Pain Problem: “Texting thumb” (which tends to lead to wrist, forearm, and elbow soreness!)
The Spa Solution: For some time there, Blackberry Massage was all the rage to cure a case of “texting thumb”; now, reflexology, founded on ancient techniques that utilize pressure-point massage typically on the feet, but also on the hands, is said to do the trick. Read how reflexology can be applied through self-massage.

The Pain Problem: Poor posture
The Spa Solution: Yoga, Pilates, meditation—any activity that strengthens your core muscles will help you stand up straighter not only at the computer, but everywhere else. Read on for posture-building Pilates exercises and yoga poses.