> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://bahaclinic.ghost.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Neck and Back Pain from Long Study Hours — A Guide for Students near Daechi Station - URL: https://bahaclinic.ghost.io/student-neck-back-pain-daechi-korean-medicine/ - Published: 2026-08-17T17:35:30.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-20T09:25:07.000Z - Description: Long study hours cause neck and back pain in students. Baha Korean Medicine Clinic near Daechi Station explains the causes and offers acupuncture, Chuna therapy, and herbal medicine to relieve pain and improve focus. - Author: BahaClinic Hello, I'm Dr. Shin Jong-hoon, director of Baha Korean Medicine Clinic. For students preparing for Korea's highly competitive university entrance exams and other major tests, time is their most precious asset. Yet many students who spend long hours seated at their desks report a crushing ache at the back of the neck and a stiff, aching lower back that makes it nearly impossible to concentrate. Most try to push through the pain or rely on over-the-counter pain relievers to get by. However, forcing yourself to sit through pain doesn't just reduce study efficiency — it also negatively affects the brain's ability to recover and consolidate memories. The reason neck and back pain tend to worsen together the longer you study is not simply a lack of physical fitness. It is the result of biomechanical overload placed on a body held in a fixed position at a desk, combined with fatigue in the spinal and central nervous systems. Today, we'll explain the root causes of neck and back pain in students and share Korean medicine treatments and management strategies that can help improve academic performance. An adult's head weighs approximately 4–5 kg, but when you tilt your head down more than 30 degrees to read a book, the load on the cervical spine surges to over 18 kg. It isn't just the neck that bends — the entire spine is interconnected and responds in a chain reaction. When the head shifts forward, the natural C-shaped curve of the cervical spine flattens into a straight neck (loss of cervical lordosis). As the center of gravity of the head moves forward, the upper back rounds to compensate, and the lumbar lordosis collapses as the lower back tilts backward. The result is that this seemingly simple act of looking down drives the pressure on both the cervical and lumbar discs to more than twice what it would be when standing upright. ![Stress index measurement for students at Baha Korean Medicine Clinic](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f6/02/f602fcbb-d8f0-4ce1-9683-cf06ef6f8fdf/content/images/2026/08/baha-3-1.jpg) Many students, when their concentration begins to waver, fall into habits such as perching on the edge of their chair, crossing one leg over the other, or resting their chin in their hand. These habits cause the pelvis to tilt unevenly from side to side and push the spine into a lateral curve. Sitting for long periods with a misaligned pelvis creates an imbalance in the tension of the muscles on either side of the lower back, which can develop into chronic pelvic and lower-back pain concentrated on one side. For students, neck and back pain does not simply remain a physical problem — it directly affects academic performance, because structural issues in the spine have a direct impact on blood flow to the brain and on nerve signal transmission. ① Tension headaches and eye fatigue When the deep muscles at the back of the neck remain contracted for extended periods, they compress the occipital nerves and the blood vessels surrounding the neck. This triggers tension headaches felt as a tingling sensation at the back of the head or a persistent, dull ache at the temples, and leads to eye fatigue — a dry, strained feeling behind the eyes — that makes it difficult to read for any length of time. ② Reduced cerebral blood flow and impaired concentration When the muscles of the neck and upper back become chronically tight, the volume of blood delivering oxygen and nutrients to the brain decreases. This causes mental fogginess, shortens the ability to sustain focus, and contributes to memory lapses and post-meal drowsiness. ③ Chronic fatigue and poor sleep quality Muscle tension accumulated in the neck and lower back during the day prevents full relaxation even during nighttime sleep. Students often wake up still feeling heavy and unrefreshed, perpetuating a harmful cycle of fatigue. ![Chuna manual therapy for neck pain caused by long hours of studying](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f6/02/f602fcbb-d8f0-4ce1-9683-cf06ef6f8fdf/content/images/2026/08/baha-3-2.jpg) The cornerstone of treating student patients is providing rapid pain relief while maintaining concentration — without causing the drowsiness or fatigue that would interfere with studying. At Baha Korean Medicine Clinic, we offer safe, structured treatment tailored to each student's body type and exam schedule. 1) Student-tailored Chuna manual therapy Using the gentlest and safest techniques available, we correct the thoracic kyphosis, forward head posture, and pelvic misalignment that develop from prolonged sitting, immediately reducing the load placed on the neck and lower back. 2) Minimal-discomfort acupuncture We carefully adjust stimulation levels so that students can receive acupuncture comfortably, without fear. Treatment targets the deeply knotted muscles around the neck, shoulders, and lower back to improve circulation and interrupt pain signals. 3) Pharmacopuncture (herbal injections) A purified herbal pharmacopuncture solution with anti-inflammatory and tissue-regenerative properties is injected directly into damaged ligaments and joint areas, providing precise relief from chronic inflammation and pain. 4) Student-focused herbal medicine (Chongmyeong-tang formulas, antler tonic, Chongmyeong Gongjin-dan, antler Gyeongok-go) We prescribe Chongmyeong-tang-based formulas customized to each student's constitution to replenish the qi and blood of organ systems exhausted by prolonged studying, strengthen spinal ligaments, and enhance mental clarity. These formulas are designed to improve brain fatigue and boost learning efficiency without causing drowsiness. ![Manual therapy device treatment for neck and shoulder tension](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f6/02/f602fcbb-d8f0-4ce1-9683-cf06ef6f8fdf/content/images/2026/08/baha-3-3.jpg) Students must develop the habit of maintaining correct posture while studying in order to reduce pain. ① Use a book stand to raise your line of sight Studying with a book flat on the desk and your head bent down places the worst possible load on your neck. Simply using an adjustable book stand to position your book or tablet at eye level can reduce the load on your neck and back by more than half. ② A 1-minute spinal reset after every 50 minutes of study Without significantly disrupting your study flow, stand up every 50 minutes, stretch both arms overhead to fully extend your upper body, and engage your gluteal muscles for about one minute. This is an important step for supplying oxygen and fluid to the compressed discs. ③ Sit deep in your chair with both feet flat on the floor Push your hips all the way to the back of the chair and, if needed, place a small cushion behind your lower back to support the lumbar arch. Having both feet fully flat on the floor allows your body weight to be distributed evenly through the pelvis. Preparing for exams is not a sprint — it is a long-distance marathon. Enduring physical pain is an obstacle that prevents you from finishing the race. Baha Korean Medicine Clinic near Daechi Station is here to help students realign the spine and recover from brain fatigue so you can study at your best, free from pain. If prolonged study sessions are leaving your neck and back too painful to concentrate, please don't push through it alone — come in for a thorough, personalized assessment and treatment. ![Reception and waiting area at Baha Korean Medicine Clinic near Daechi Station](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f6/02/f602fcbb-d8f0-4ce1-9683-cf06ef6f8fdf/content/images/2026/08/baha-3-4.jpg)