Dear God…..
I am….seriously upset tonight.
I mean….I am trying to laugh it off – but I’m in pain. My chest feels like it’s being cracked open.
What IN THE world is going on with my poor body??
I’m 42. A healthy 42. I eat a mostly vegetarian diet, I’m maybe 8-10 pounds over weight…..and working really hard at making that ZERO over weight. (Ask my friend Kim in Indiana….if she has to hear one more meal off my diet menu….she’s going to puke!)
Anyway…
I DON’T…..DO NOT have heart issues. I had a 64 CT Slice Scan done on my heart less than three months ago, two echos and two stress tests. MY blood work is perfect as well.
I’m blessed. Really. But ya know….you have to be an active player in your health. You can’t just “hope” those Pringles don’t clog your arteries. You can’t just “hope” the blubber around your waist won’t cause you to have a coronary. You can’t just “hope” not getting the stress in your life under control won’t cause high blood pressure. You can’t just “hope” sitting in front of your computer and TV all the time won’t cause permanent damage to your spine.
YOU have to be a willing participant in your “good health” game plan.
Which….leads me back to my chest muscles.
I need to practice what I preach. BIG time.
For years….and years…..and years….
(You ladies out there right now that are up late working on your website and/or blog…..you’ve got to go to bed!! You’ve got to get some rest, some exercise and change your nutrition habits!! Especially with all this damn Halloween candy laying around….Jesus….it’s not even Halloween yet and I keep sneaking mini-Heath bars!!)
Anyway….what I was saying….for…years….and years….
I have known that the amount of time spent at my computer was bordering on “psycho-possessed-woman” zone. I KNEW that as my body aged from 34 years old to 42 (this is how long I have worked in front of my computer), that if I wasn’t careful – if I didn’t listen to my body….I would pay dearly.
Well…here I sit. Chest muscle pain so bad it’s making it hard to just sit up straight!! Just sitting up straight is an issue!!! I’m a blogger that from a side view looks like a hunch back with a chicken neck jutting out!! Some kind of weird alien basking in the glow of a monitor. Scary.
All those years of ballet, all those years of eating well, all those years of keeping my weight in check, getting my yearly check-ups, going to the dentist, mainly drinking water….
It’s pointless effort if I continue to sit….all hunched and slouched in my computer chair….with my head and chin jutted out….
What I have I done??
Can it be undone??
Are you in the same boat? Maybe you’re standing on the shore just about to get in this boat of misery??
This is one of the horrible aspects of working at home on a computer (like many of us home based business moms do!) that no one talks about. OH it’s ALL rainbows and butterflies until you can’t move and you’re getting up from the couch like a 139 year old woman with osteoporosis!
I did some research tonight. Yep….sitting here at my computer (again!) – but now in a perfect, straight-backed posture which is about to kill me and feels as unnatural as an enema - but I had to find out. I had to get more info. So researching….
From what I can tell I have what is called…well, WE (yes…I’m dragging you into this with me AGAIN!) have what is called upper cross syndrome. It’s real…look it up.
Upper Cross Syndrome – I found a great site that defines this:
http://www.lifewest.edu/courses/syllabi/uppercrossedsyndrome.pdf
The site states: “Upper Cross Syndrome describes a compromise in the musculoskeletal system
which tightens or facilitates the anterior compartment of the “upper†torso while at the
same time weakening the posterior. While the majority of muscles involved in Upper
Cross Syndrome are anterior to the shoulders there are a few posterior elements to
consider as well. The chest muscles become tight and shortened as well as the neck
muscles (both posterior and anterior compartments).”
Additionally…they go on to say…”Where do you typically see Upper Cross Syndrome? Being that it is
predominantly a postural issue, it is seen in individuals who work at a desk or are
constantly leaning forward. Through postural adaptation, your body adopts the classical
hunching of the upper thoracic spine, internal rotation of the shoulders, and anterior head
carriage.”
I call this…simply….“Hunched-Over Chicken Neck Alien” Syndrome.
Proper posture at your computer is of course, the best way to prevent this. Are you even aware of your posture? Maybe every now and then….but not all the time. Breaks with stretching exercises should be incorporated as well. Something I was not doing. Are you?
I could certainly go on and list tons of preventive measures for this Upper Cross Syndrome – which I am sure….right now….there are MANY women 25 years and older that are thinking as they read this…..”Hmmmm…..am I sitting correctly at my computer?”
No….you are not. You’re all hunched back and slouchy.
My advice….
Find exercises NOW regarding Upper Cross Syndrome and start incorporating them into your daily routine. You youngins’ out there that haven’t hit your mid-30′s just yet might think this is stupid….but your body will only compensate for you for so long….and then…..it will turn on you. Heed my warning….I’m 42 – and I’m suffering.
Here is a good site for some exercise ideas for Upper Cross Syndrome – but I am sure there are many other sites with helpful info as well:
http://www.issaonline.com/blog/index.cfm/2008/10/2/Combating-Upper-Cross-Syndrome
I am going to bed now. I am tired. My hunched over shoulders are aching from sitting up straight for just 20 minutes….I feel like I’ve been in a car wreck just from sitting properly!? I yie yie! MY neck is NOT enjoying being tucked back into it’s proper alignment either…..the “chicken” in me is desperately trying to cluck it’s way out.
I know we’re real close to Halloween being late October and all….
I am sure my tale is quite scary. But scarier would be NOT needing a Halloween costume because your posture is in such bad shape you look pretty creepy already!! So sit up straight like your Momma told you to! You’ll be so glad you did….
This chick(en) is heading for bed!! Tomorrow is a new day in my hen house (home office)! A day filled with stretches and straightening…..if you hear any crackin’ noises….that’s probably me! Cluckin’ noises? Yeah….probably me.
