Forward Head Posture, A Silent Killer?

By Dr. Slovin
August 1, 2022

Forward Head Posture, A Silent Killer?

Correct Posture With An “S”

The three curves in the human spine allow your body to carry its own weight while also distributing that weight down through the pelvis. They are key for perfect posture, which you should have every day if possible!

The cervical (neck) curve helps keep head height up and allows us to look straight ahead when sitting or standing The lumbar( lower back )curve works with our upper bodies by letting them sit comfortably at ease without feeling like they’re going bankrupt from holding too much postural stress.

The thoracic (mid-back) curve completes the “S” shape and provides a nice counterbalance to the cervical and lumbar curves. This beautiful alignment gives your body the mechanical ability to function and move efficiently with less risk of pain or injury.

Don’t let poor posture ruin your health

We all know that sitting all day long in front of a computer, or even worse, a laptop or phone is bad for your health. Sitting for hours at a screen almost forces your head forward of your shoulders. Forward head posture is a growing health problem in today’s computer-driven society. This position robs its victims of normal range movement and muscle strength while also diminishing the function available to one’s cervical curve – which can lead to serious medical conditions such as kyphosis (or hyperextension) of the spine, neck pain, difficulty breathing,  headaches as well as numbness and tingling.

Dangers Of Forward Head Posture

Forward head posture is not just uncomfortable- it’s harmful! It puts a lot of strain on your body and can cause painful TMJ, it can cause serious health problems such as “Dowager’s Hump” (a condition where someone has an excessive amount of flexion in their upper spine). Forward Head Posture also causes constant stress which leads to arthritis later down the road.

For every one inch that your head moves forward of your shoulders, you carry an additional 15 to 30 pounds of tension in your neck. That’s like walking around all day with a good-sized watermelon hanging from your neck. No thank you.

Did You Know? Most Backpacks Encourage Poor Posture

When you pick up your child’s backpack on the way to school, take a moment and notice how heavy it feels in comparison with him. Carrying such heavy loads often places damaging stress on children’s growing skeletal frames while encouraging them towards more negative posture changes which can lead to serious long-term health issues like orthopedic problems or depression later down in life! To help protect your kids against these risks, make sure their backpacks weigh no more than 10-15% of his/her weight. If your child weighs 100 lbs then their bag should weigh no more than 10-15lbs.

Good Posture Can Change Your Life

Good posture is important for so many reasons. Not only does it help you to avoid pain and injuries, but it also makes you look more confident and stylish. Unfortunately, poor neck posture is all too common, especially in today’s sedentary world. Fortunately, chiropractic care can be an effective way to correct poor posture and improve your overall health. Several studies over the years have shown that people who received chiropractic treatment have significant improvements in head angle and pain ratings. What’s more, the treatment enabled these patients to maintain correct neck curvature long-term. So if you’re looking to stand tall and proud with good posture, seeing a chiropractor should be high on your to-do list.