Neck pain affects a large group of people throughout the world. It likely comes from the type of work people do, because that’s where people spend most of their time. We looked up the 10 states in the US that are mostly likely to have neck pain (according to Google). We then found the most common jobs in each of those states compared to their popularity in every other state. These unique jobs to each state might be the reasons that these are the top ten states with neck pain. Do you live in one of the 10 states most likely to have neck pain? Let’s find out.
10. Connecticut: The number one most popular job in Connecticut compared to other states is an epidemiologist.1 An epidemiologist is an expert in the branch of medicine that deals with controlling diseases. Pretty interesting. Why might they be more inclined to neck pain? Maybe the neck pain comes from all the studying they do to become doctors. They have to look down at books all day, putting extra strain on their necks and brains.
9. Alabama: Traffic technicians2 occupy the most common and unique jobs to Alabama. Though it might not sound like it, being a traffic technician means having a desk job. They monitor traffic control systems to keep them working efficiently. Working at a desk often means neck pain from poor posture or a workplace that isn’t ergonomic.
8. Delaware: In Delaware, there are a lot of tank car, truck, and ship loaders.3 Lifting heavy objects for long periods of time, especially day after day, can tire out your muscles very quickly. If you’re in a position like this, try stretching as often as you can so that your muscles stay loose and ready for work.
7. Rhode Island: The most popular job in Rhode Island is a model maker4 (metal and plastic). Model makers set up and operate machines and then make working models of metal or plastic objects. This means they get their hands dirty bending and lifting and squatting every day. Sounds like a plea for neck pain if you ask me.
6. Arkansas: In Arkansas, cooling and freezing equipment operators and tenders5 are in the number one most common job position. These equipment operators6 tend to things like refrigerators or freezers and also tend to products that need to be frozen like food, blood plasma, and chemicals. Fixing freezers and keeping products fresh means some desk work and some lifting and bending—both of which are prone to neck pain.
5. Maine: Main has a lot of logging equipment operators7 who drive logging tractors to stack logs and prepare wood in other ways. Just like driving can be bad for your neck if you adjust your seat the wrong way, driving other equipment can be bad for your neck too. And usually the seats inside these vehicles are very high off the ground, which would mean the workers have to look down a lot. Looking down is another cause for neck pain.
4. Pennsylvania: Postsecondary forestry and conservation science teachers8 have the most common, unique job in Pennsylvania. Again, teaching means a desk job, and for this kind of teaching job, it means a lot of research. Desk job equals looking down which equals neck pain.
3. Mississippi: The number one most popular job in Mississippi compared to other states is a slot key person.9 What does a slot key person do you might be wondering? A slot key person10 works at a casino settling complaints of players, verifying payoffs, and fixing and resetting slot machines. Another desk job with a bonus of repairing machines; who’s surprised they have neck pain? Not me.
2. Kentucky: Farmworkers11 who farm and ranch animals occupy the most common and unique jobs to Kentucky. Tending for animals is a lot of heavy lifting, which takes a lot of energy from your body day after day. Neck pain just seems to come with every job, especially one where you have to bend over to scoop poop.
1. West Virginia: The most popular job in West Virginia—the state with the most neck pain— is roof bolters and miners.12 Again, bending and squatting and lifting. Neck pain is screaming their names. If you have a job like this, make sure you stretch and stretch as often as you can.
Sources:
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Connecticut/Connecticut.html
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Alabama/Alabama.html
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Delaware/Delaware.html
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Rhode_Island/Rhode_Island.html
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Arkansas/Arkansas.html
- https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes519193.htm
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Maine/Maine.html
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania.html
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Mississippi/Mississippi.html
- http://www.careers.org/occupations/39-1012.00/slot-key-persons
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/Kentucky/Kentucky.html
- http://www.seniorjobbank.org/database/West_Virginia/West_Virginia.html
