Issue link: http://www.bodysensemagazinedigital.com/i/139509
Do you have tension headaches or chronic tension in your upper body? How about neck and shoulder stiffness? Maybe you experience strain in the temples, forehead, neck, shoulders, or back, especially after a long period of working at a computer or reading a book? If so, your tension could be related to how you look at the world. Healthy vision is comfortable, efficient, and relaxed for the viewer, while poor visual habits can interfere with free and easy movement, making the body chronically tense. We use our eyes much of the day, and if we strain to see, we create tension in the face, neck, shoulders, and back muscles. Squinting and straining when we have trouble making something out, or stiffening our entire neck, spine, and pelvis every time we look up can affect the entire body. Most of us develop these vision habits without even being aware of them, but there are other health factors that can play a role. Up to 5 percent of children are born with some kind of visual abnormality or develop one in the first few years of life. A lazy eye, for example, may cause a child to hike up one eye or one shoulder, or twist the neck to look out of the better-sighted eye at all times. Being sensitive to light might cause a child to develop the habit of hanging the head forward. Injuries to or near the eyes can also cause chronic tension in the muscles of the eyes or structures near the eyes. And finally, emotional stress can cause us to hold our muscles tight while we look out at the world. The American Optometric Association's article "Computer Vision Syndrome" explains how working at a computer can lead to problems with the eyes, neck, and shoulders. Learn how to ergonomically set up your computer, how often to take rest breaks, and more at www.aoa.org/x5253.xml. Bad Vision Habits • After prolonged periods of looking straight ahead or typing on a computer keyboard, many people may pull their head forward while cocking the back of the head back. • Bifocal wearers often pull their necks backward when they read or do other close work to see through the bottom of their glasses. • Some people thrust their head forward each time they look at something, which tightens all the neck muscles. Body Sense 11