Why Hair Designers Suffer from Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care and IMS Offer a Comprehensive Solution

By Cheolho Son, MD, DC(Physiatrist and Chiropractor) in Seoul

💡 Hair Designers: A High-Risk Group for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders

Hair designers spend long hours standing, bending their necks, and lifting their arms repeatedly to style clients’ hair. These repetitive movements and awkward postures place significant stress on the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

According to occupational health data from Korea and other countries, hairdressers are at high risk for:

  • Chronic neck and shoulder pain

  • Numbness or tingling in the arms and hands

  • Wrist overuse syndromes, such as carpal tunnel syndrome

📚 Reference: Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2015 – “Survey on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Hairdressers”

📌 Beyond Muscle Fatigue – The Role of the Upper Cervical Spine and Deep Muscular Tension

Many hairdressers develop chronic pain not just from surface-level muscle fatigue, but from underlying imbalances in the upper cervical spine (C1 and C2) and chronic overactivity of deep neck stabilizers.

Misalignment in the upper cervical spine may contribute to:

  • Persistent neck and shoulder tightness

  • Radiating pain and neurological symptoms in the arms

  • Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), leading to fatigue, cold hands/feet, and poor sleep

📚 Reference: Bogduk N, “The Clinical Anatomy of the Cervical Spine”, Elsevier, 2012

🧭 The Role of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care

Misalignment of the upper cervical spine often goes unnoticed in standard X-rays or MRIs. Through detailed evaluation—such as CBCT (Cone-Beam CT), posture analysis, and leg length checks—clinicians can assess and correct subtle biomechanical issues.

Upper cervical adjustments aim to:

  • Restore proper alignment of the atlas and axis

  • Reduce neural tension and spinal cord stress

  • Improve autonomic balance and postural stability

📚 Reference: “Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care and Chronic Pain: Effects on Autonomic Function,” Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 2016

🔍 IMS (Intramuscular Stimulation) for Chronic Pain

Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS) is a dry needling technique that targets myofascial trigger points deep within tight muscles. It is especially helpful in chronic pain cases that do not respond well to medication or superficial therapies.

Benefits of IMS for hair designers may include:

  • Immediate release of muscular knots

  • Improved range of motion and functional strength

  • Long-term relief from chronic tension and fatigue

📚 Reference: Gunn CC, “The Gunn Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain,” Churchill Livingstone, 1997
📚 Korean Society of IMS, 2020 Workshop – “Application of IMS in Shoulder Myofascial Pain Syndrome”

🧩 The Value of an Integrative Treatment Approach

For many hair designers with persistent pain, a single treatment modality is rarely enough. Instead, a comprehensive strategy combining:

  • Upper cervical chiropractic adjustment

  • IMS (dry needling)

  • Corrective exercise and postural retraining

  • Lifestyle education

...can produce more lasting results by addressing both the symptoms and root causes.

✅ Conclusion

If you're a hair designer struggling with unresolved musculoskeletal pain, a personalized, integrative approach—including upper cervical chiropractic care and IMS—may offer meaningful relief.

🔹 Every treatment should be tailored to individual needs based on medical evaluation.
🔹 Please consult a licensed healthcare professional for proper diagnosis and treatment planning.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, feel free to contact Cheolho Son Rehabilitation Medicine Clinic.

We’re here to support your healing journey with precision and care. 

👍Consultation and Appointment Information

Son PMR & Chiropractic Clinic( 2nd floor, 229-1 Gucheonmyun-Ro, Gangdongu, Seoul, South Korea) 

by  Dr Son MD & DC 
Contact: 02-482-8875 in Seoul( +82-2-482-8875)

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