Election season is here, and if you're like most New Yorkers, you're spending more time than usual glued to your phone — refreshing polls, reading hot takes, doomscrolling through social media, and sitting on the couch watching debates and news coverage. It's mentally exhausting. But it's also physically wrecking your spine.

As a chiropractor at KIRO in Nolita, Dr. Michael sees a measurable uptick in patients with neck pain, upper back tension, and stress-related muscle tightness every election season. Here's the connection between political stress and spinal health — and what you can do about it.

Why Election Season Is Hard on Your Spine

1. Hours of Doom Scrolling in Bad Posture

The average person spends hours per day on their phone during election season — far more than usual. Every minute you spend looking down at your phone puts your cervical spine under stress. When your head tilts forward just 30 degrees, the effective weight on your neck muscles jumps from about 10 pounds to nearly 40 pounds. Multiply that by hours of scrolling each day, and your neck and upper back are under enormous strain.

2. Stress Tightens Your Muscles

Political anxiety triggers your body's stress response — your sympathetic nervous system activates, your muscles tense, and your shoulders creep up toward your ears. This isn't a conscious choice; it's a physiological reaction. Chronic stress keeps your muscles in a semi-contracted state, especially the muscles in your neck, upper back, and jaw. Over weeks, this creates knots, trigger points, and persistent tension that doesn't release even when you try to relax.

3. Couch Posture During News Binges

Watching election coverage means long stretches on the couch — often in the worst possible positions for your spine. Slouching into soft cushions rounds your lower back, eliminates your lumbar curve, and pushes your head forward. If you're also looking at your phone while the TV is on, your neck is alternating between looking up and looking down, creating strain from multiple angles.

4. Clenching Your Jaw

Political stress often manifests as jaw clenching and teeth grinding — sometimes without you even noticing. Your jaw muscles connect to the muscles in your upper cervical spine, so chronic jaw tension pulls on your neck and can cause headaches, ear pain, and neck stiffness. Many patients don't connect their neck pain to their jaw until a chiropractor points it out.

5. Less Physical Activity

When you're stressed and glued to the news, exercise is usually the first thing to drop. Less movement means your spine gets less of the regular decompression and mobility it needs. Your muscles stiffen, your joints lose range of motion, and the stiffness from sitting and scrolling compounds day after day.

How to Protect Your Spine During Election Season

• Set a scrolling timer. Limit phone use to specific windows and put it down in between. Your neck needs breaks from the forward-head position.

• Watch the news sitting upright. If you're going to watch coverage, sit in a chair with back support rather than sinking into the couch.

• Move for 10 minutes every hour. A short walk, some stretches, or even standing up and doing shoulder rolls can break the cycle of tension.

• Unclench your jaw. Set periodic reminders to check your jaw. Let your teeth separate and relax your tongue from the roof of your mouth.

• Maintain your exercise routine. Even a shortened version of your normal workout keeps your spine mobile and your stress levels manageable.

How a Chiropractor Can Help

Stress-related muscle tension creates a cycle: tight muscles pull your spine out of alignment, misaligned vertebrae irritate your nervous system, and an irritated nervous system keeps your muscles tight. At KIRO in Nolita, Dr. Michael uses chiropractic adjustments to break this cycle by restoring proper spinal alignment.

When your spine is aligned, your nervous system can shift out of stress mode. Your muscles relax, your tension headaches ease, and your body starts functioning the way it should — even during election week.

What Your First Visit to KIRO Looks Like

Your first visit is just $59 with the New Patient Special — a consultation, exam, and your first adjustment in about 15 minutes. Dr. Michael will assess your spine, identify where stress has created misalignment, and start correcting it immediately.

Follow-up visits are about 10 minutes.

Stay Ahead With a KIRO Membership

KIRO's membership is $180 per month — no contracts, cancel anytime. Members get all doctor-recommended visits plus monthly surface EMG scans to track nervous system function over time. During high-stress periods like election season, regular adjustments make a noticeable difference in how your body handles tension.

Visit KIRO Nolita

KIRO's Nolita studio is at 5 Cleveland Place. Hours are Monday and Thursday 10 AM–7 PM, Tuesday and Friday 8 AM–5 PM, Saturday 9 AM–1 PM. Closed Wednesday and Sunday.

KIRO accepts HSA and FSA cards and provides superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. No insurance needed, no cash accepted.

Don't let election stress wreck your spine. Book your $59 New Patient appointment at KIRO Nolita today.