Bad posture or postural stress is responsible for the most of the new patients that I see in my San Diego Chiropractic center.  Many people would be surprised to find that the most common type of injury that I see in my office is not from heavy labor but from the long term consequences of bad posture.
 

Bad posture causes postural stress which occurs any time that your spine looses it's natural curves and / or moves your weight forward beyond its neutral balance point.
 

An example of a posturally stressful position for your neck would be when you are sitting at the computer leaning your neck and head forward while keyboarding, mousing or reading the screen.  Assuming a posture in which your head and neck are extended in front of your body reverses the natural forward curve of your neck and shifts your head forward of its normal balance point. 
 

Bad posture exposes our ligaments and muscles to prolonged periods of stretching which results in fatigue, irritation, inflammation, back pain and neck pain.
 

Treating neck pain and back pain that has resulted from bad posture requires a multifaceted approach.  Medical / chiropractic care will help relieve the pain and stiffness and restore normal, full joint motion.  In addition to medical / chiropractic care, you have to identify and eliminate or modify the causes of your postural stress.

A workstation analysis can reveal ergonomic issues that are the instigators of postural stress.  Any type of treatment that you pursue will only be marginally successful if you are not able to control the source of the stress.