Too much bending or twisting of the bones of the neck can cause damage to your spine. It is important to be aware of how your neck is positioned. Try to avoid prolonged twisting and bending. In computerized offices, the prime cause of a twisted neck is placement of the computer monitor. If the monitor is not directly in front of the user or if it’s not at the right height, the neck will be angled incorrectly one way or the other. The proper monitor placement is to keep the top of the monitor at eye level and to have the monitor directly in front of you. If you are reading things from hard-copy and then typing on the computer, it’s a good idea to place papers next to and parallel with the monitor.
There are two other common causes of neck stress. The first is “Telephone Neck.” This can be eliminated very simply by using a headset or adding a telephone cushion or cradle. There is also what is called “Nearsighted Neck”, which refers to the fact that many people are unaware that they are slightly nearsighted, and thus will lean their necks forward to be able to see the screen clearly. There are also those who must lean their neck backwards to see due to improper glasses. If you notice you are bending forwards or backwards to see, make sure to have your eyes examined or simply move the monitor closer.