Many companies do not have a special rest area for employees. When they get sleepy at noon, most of them take a nap on their desks to relieve brain fatigue and make them more energetic in the afternoon. But when I wake up, I often feel dizzy, blurred vision, neck pain and backache.
Orthopedic experts explain that this is because the jaw face is downward or sideways, and the occipital arm is prone to the table for siesta, which will make the spine bend backward or twist. The cervical spine will bend forward or turn sideways, which is contrary to the normal physiological radian of the cervical spine, which should be convex forward. Taking the lateral occipital arm as an example, the cervical spine is forced to rotate 45 degrees or even 90 degrees, which will inevitably affect the cervical spine and neck muscles. The most obvious feeling is that the neck is stiff after waking up, and there is the same discomfort as “falling on the pillow”. If you lie on the table in this posture for a long time, your symptoms will become worse until you develop cervical spondylosis, especially radiculopathy.
In the same way, the upper body is prone to the table in front, and the lumbar back is convex. It is opposite to the normal physiological radian of lumbar lordosis, which will cause excessive traction of lumbar back ligaments and muscles. In a twisted posture, even if you take a nap for 15-30 minutes at noon, you will feel discomfort such as neck pain and backache. Over time, the cervical and lumbar vertebrae and their ligaments and muscles will be strained, affecting the physiological balance of the spine, and then causing intervertebral disc degeneration and even herniation, resulting in a series of cervical and lumbar diseases.
In more serious cases, muscle tension in the upper limbs may directly block nerves, leading to hand paralysis. It was once reported that a Russian fell to the ground after being drunk and slept on his side for a long time. The muscles and other tissues of his upper limbs, which were compressed by his weight, jammed the brachial plexus or important blood vessels. When he woke up, he found that one side of his upper limbs had been paralyzed. From this we can see the harm of lying on the table and taking a nap.
In order to avoid cervical spondylosis, if you really need to take a nap, it is best to cushion a soft pillow on the table or lower the height of the chair to reduce the range of upper body depression, and it is not appropriate to sleep for a long time. In addition, you can also practice sitting to sleep. Sitting to sleep is better than lying on the stomach. It is best to choose a high backed chair and bring a U-shaped neck pillow to give your cervical spine some support. Once uncomfortable symptoms appear after lying on the table and taking a nap, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible to make a clear diagnosis and treat them in time.
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