Forward Head Posture

Ever notice that when you stand taller, you feel better? Don’t those who stand up straight and strong seem most attractive?  It isn’t surprising that posture is a window into one’s general health and wellbeing. Furthermore, poor posture can indicate there is a problem with one’s spine and nervous system.  The nervous system is the control and communication system of the body, responsible for all of the body’s functions.

One of the most common postural distortions is forward head posture, also known as anterior head translation.  It increases the weight bearing on the discs and can lead to premature arthritis of the neck. There are many causes of this type of posture including car accidents, sports injuries, working with computers, loss of bone density, and that jutting forward during the day in times of stress. Posture problems can also result simply from poor sleep habits, like sleeping on your stomach with your head turned to the side, or sleeping on mattresses that don’t offer enough support.

The more severe the forward head posture, the more weight and pressure imposed upon the discs, muscles, and nerves of the cervical spine.

Those who have forward head posture, will, over time lose the normal spinal curvature in the neck. When this occurs, the weight of the head, approximately 12 pounds or so, is displaced and places pressure on the discs, muscles and nerves of the cervical spine. This leads to muscle strain in order to balance the weight of the head and uneven wearing of the discs and joints of the cervical spine. As forward head posture continues to move forward, it puts more and more pounds of pressure on the discs, muscles, and nerves. One’s forward head posture could be so great that it adds over 40 lbs. of pressure to the discs, muscles, and nerves. That is more than 3 times the normal amount of pressure! Often those with forward head posture suffer from intense headaches and neck strains.

One’s head is like a bowling ball. Hold a bowling ball close into your body and it’s easy. Try holding a bowling ball out a few inches from your body and see how much harder that is. Imagine the same scenario with regards to your head and forward head posture.

A Distortion in spinal alignment like forward head posture is an indicator of vertebral subluxation – a condition treated only by chiropractors. The vertebral subluxation is a misalignment of the spinal vertebra effecting the spinal joints and discs causing changes in nerve function and irritating the spinal musculature. Chronic subluxations lead to spinal disc and joint arthritis. Subluxation affects the function of the nerve and any area of the body supplied by that nerve. Multiple subluxations can affect multiple organs, glands and systems of the body leading to ill health.

Chiropractors specialize in analyzing posture and spinal problems. They are trained in the art of detection. A doctor of chiropractic searches for the problems that exist underneath poor posture. With this knowledge, a chiropractor can provide a painless and precise adjustment to remove the vertebral subluxation thereby clearing the path of communication between the brain and all parts of the body. Additionally, a chiropractor can provide a patient with specific exercises aimed at correcting the forward head posture and subsequently restoring the curve of the neck.

CALL 770-435-8890 to schedule an appointment for you and your whole family with Dr. Ofek.