The need for posture correction has significantly increased with advances in mobile technology. Texting may be a convenient and easy way to communicate, but it has implications for health. It decreases the normal C-curve of the cervical spine, causing neck pain and what is known as “Forward Head Posture”.
Forward head posture leads to “osteoarthritis, disc degeneration and pinched nerves”.
Neck pain is almost as common as back pain in our society, and young people are experiencing neck pain much more early in life because of texting. Sitting at a computer also creates the same posture as texting.
Poor health can result from stretching of the spinal cord due to loss of cervical curve. A major part of head, neck, jaw and shoulder pain is due to forward head carriage.
According to Dr. Roger Sperry, a Nobel Prize recipient for brain research, this affects the way your brain can function. “When you have forward head posture, your brain will rob energy from your thinking, metabolism, and immune function to deal with abnormal gravity/posture relationships and processing”.
How Do You Know If You Have Forward Head Posture?
First of all, how do you know you have this? A simple test can show you. Stand with your heels, pelvis, shoulders and back of your head touching the wall. Is your posture normal? If this is difficult to maintain or does not feel comfortable at all then you have Forward head posture. This is confirmed when you relax to your regular posture and your head comes forward away from the wall.
How Can You Prevent/Reverse Forward Head Posture?
How can you prevent the serious health complications from forward head carriage? Chiropractors are trained in biomechanics to correct your posture. Specific exercises can be provided to restore correct head carriage, thus reversing years of damage and preventing the future development of cervical disc degeneration and chronic neck pain.
Please speak with Dr. Darren to determine if you are a candidate to correct your posture and eliminate the Forward Head Posture.
Do you suffer from “Text Neck” ?
“Text Neck” is referring to the obnoxious pain in your neck that could be caused from texting too much. Text Neck is caused by holding the upper back and neck in an abnormal position for a long period of time resulting in too much strain on the spine.
“It is identified as overuse syndrome involving head, neck, and shoulders resulting in strain on the spine from looking in a downward position at hand held devices like cell phones, e-readers, mp3 players and computer tablets.” Remarked Chris Cornett, M.D. orthopedic surgeon and spine specialist. He talked about how this over use results in an increase in fatigue, stress on the muscles and even headaches. Also about how every forward movement someone makes with their head increases its weight, resulting in Text Neck. If you do not treat or discontinue the progression of text neck, it will worsen, causing an increase in the injury and discomfort, while possibly damaging structures in your neck such as discs and joints.
There are many ways to get rid of Text Neck.
- Modify the position of the device. So, instead of you bringing your head down to it, it should be brought up to your head.
- Take breaks from using the device.
- Maintain a strong and flexible back and neck by keeping physically fit.
- Get adjusted by a chiropractor.
If you have questions about Forward Head Posture or Text Neck, please reach out to Dr. Darren. He’d be happy to discuss the diagnosis and treatment options with you.
Dr. Darren Poncelet
Chiropractor at M&Y Chiropractic
