Knoxville Chiropractor Corrects Forward Head Posture

Forward head posture in Knoxville (also known as anterior head carriage) is a condition in which the head and cervical spine are displaced anteriorly. In the ideal spine, curves develop that provide stability and normal range of motion. The cervical spine should form a lordotic (or c-shaped when facing left) curve in which the bottom and top of the curves line up over each other. When forward head posture develops the top of the curve is no longer over the bottom of the curve as it has moved significantly forward.

Forward head posture is very common today. The vast majority of my patients that have x-rays analyzed using Chiropractic BioPhysics technique show some degree of forward head posture. With cell phones, computers, cars, and office work we are constantly looking down and/or leaning our heads forward. The use of technology makes this condition, once mainly found in the elderly, prevalent in all ages. Although this condition is common, it is not normal.

How Do You Know if You Have Forward Head Posture in Knoxville?

Common symptoms associated with forward head posture include neck pain, upper mid back pain/tightness, and even headaches. These symptoms are due to a number of factors. When in normal alignment the curves of the spine provide stability to the spine and body and allow for force to the spine to dissipate. When the head and neck are displaced anteriorly, this stability is lost. Therefore as we are subjected to forces such as bending, lifting, or even gravity these forces no longer dissipate throughout the spine normally, leading to stress in the spine. This stress leads to inflammation and degeneration and in extreme cases disc herniation. The muscles of the neck are also stretched and swelling at cervicothoracic junction leads to neck and upper midback pain/tightness. The tightening of the cervical muscles from forward head posture leads to the dreaded cervicogenic headache. The most common way to tell if you are exhibiting forward head posture is that you will experience excessive swelling, a knot, or known by some as a hump at the C7 vertebra or the junction between the neck and midback.

Forward head posture is commonly observed in the elderly as their vertebral disc space decreases they lose normal curvature in the spine. The thoracic kyphosis is then exaggerated leading to compensation in the cervical spine. This leads to the common forward head posture observed in the elderly. With today’s use of technology, however forward head posture is seen much earlier. We are looking down at phones or leaning forward to look at screens and driving cars, changing the biomechanics of our spines. These poor postural abnormalities lead to an important muscle discrepancy known as upper crossed syndrome. This condition involves tightening of the pectoralis and upper trapezius/rhomboid muscles; and weakening of the anterior cervical muscles and lower trapezius muscles. One of the first and most important things to do to reverse forward head posture would be to stretch the pectoralis muscles. These muscles become tight as we are hunched forward and bring the shoulders inward. Spend a few minutes per day laying on your back spreading the arms as far back as you can to stretch the pectoralis muscles.
Also, strengthen the lower trapezius muscles using the row pull exercise. These simple stretches and exercises can help eliminate the muscle discrepancies. Chiropractic care, particularly Chiropractic BioPhysics technique utilizing cervical traction, is effective in correcting forward head posture timely while managing pain symptoms.

Forward head posture can be preventing with some simple steps. When using a cell phone remember to bring the screen up in front of your face rather than looking down. For correct posture, a simple thing to remember is to keep your shoulders back. It is extremely difficult and uncomfortable to lean the head forward excessively while the shoulders are held back. Remember to get up and walk around for 10 minutes every hour when working on the computer. Check out the following links for more information on preventing and correcting forward head posture:

• What Is The Ideal Spine?
• Upper Crossed Syndrome

For more information on how chiropractic can help go to rockytopchiropractic.com or call the office at (865) 444-5994.