subject: A Seattle Chiropractor's Look At Forward Head Syndrome [print this page] One of the simplest ways to improve your health is having good posture. Poor head position can negatively affect your health in a number of surprising ways. Called forward head syndrome, if your head doesn't sit properly aligned above your shoulders you could be suffering from a number health issues unnecessarily. This article provides a look at forward head syndrome and gives tips from a Seattle chiropractic clinic on alleviating this misalignment.
Forward Head Syndrome
Forward head syndrome occurs when you head and chin sit forward of your shoulders and can be caused by poor posture or due to a past trauma that led to your spine and neck getting out of alignment. Not only does forward head syndrome lead to losing normal spinal curve in the neck, but the weight of the head puts extreme pressure on the back and neck that causes dangerous tension on the brain stem and spinal cord.
Common Health Issues
Forward head syndrome can lead to a number of diseases and health conditions, including vertebral subluxation, loss of lung capacity, pain and trigger points in the upper back, tempero mandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), gastrointestinal conditions, fibromyalgia, reduced range of motion, poor posture, tension headaches, and even neurological issues due to brain pressure.
Avoiding Forward Head Posture
There are ways you can avoid forward head posture, especially always making an effort to sit and stand with good posture where your ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles fall in a vertical line. Other ways to avoid forward head posture include not looking down when reading or working on your computer, sitting up straight instead of slouching with your back hunched and shoulders rounded, and not carrying a heavy purse or backpack over one or both shoulders.
Treating Forward Head Posture
If you suffer from forward head posture, treatment from a Seattle chiropractor will help. The chiropractic approach to treating forward head posture is to restore the proper curve of the neck which relieves the ligament and muscle tension and restores ideal posture. This usually includes chiropractic spinal adjustments and muscle rehabilitation that increases the flexibility and strength of the neck muscles, especially those in front of the neck.
You don't need to suffer with upper back pain due to forward head syndrome because it's easy to treat. Getting treatment for this serious but often overlooked condition is important as it can lead to serious health issues. Having good posture does a lot more for you than just enhance your looks; it helps you to avoid problems that start small but over time may develop into other unhealthy conditions.
A Seattle Chiropractor's Look At Forward Head Syndrome
