Vancouver Spine Care Centre speculates that you are feeling
at least one of these things right now:
tight jaw, tense shoulders edging up to
your ears, chin tipping down, head jutting
forward on your neck. And if you are
anything like the rest of us in Vancouver, you’re on your cellphone
doing all of these at the same time!
Forward head carriage or forward head posture (that Wikipedia (1) calls
“Justin Bieber Head” and "iHunch"!) is common to most
of us. Cell phone use, unsuitable computer screen
set-up, and stress may all play a
role. This posture compels our 10 pound heads to stick
out and off of our necks. Not a pretty image
or healthy position! Vancouver Spine Care Centre relieves
and improves the condition!
FORWARD HEAD CARRIAGE / FORWARD NECK POSTURE EXPLAINED
What is it? Forward head carriage happens when
your neck juts forward over your first spinal vertebra, C1
(cervical vertebra 1). Each inch forward increases the weight on
your neck by 10 pounds. (2) That adds up! What follows? Neck
pain. Shoulder stiffness. Pain between the shoulders. Fatigue. Headache. Arm pain. Jaw pain. Do you feel it?
FORWARD HEAD CARRIAGE / FORWARD NECK POSTURE HELPED
What helps? It may appear
that since it’s a neck issue treating the neck and
focusing on the neck itself only would
have the greatest impact toward correcting
the issue and any related pain. A group of researchers reported
that this is not really the case. They compared neck mobilization treatment (plus stabilization exercise) to
thoracic spine (upper back) mobilization treatment (plus stabilization
exercise. They found that using thoracic
spine mobilization treatment plus stabilization exercise delivered
better results. Pain, disability, and global rating of change by patients
all improved along with their craniovertebral angle when
standing as well as their cervical extension posture. (3) Vancouver Spine Care Centre uses
Cox® Technic, a gentle stretching treatment for the neck and
thoracic spine that is quite effective for spinal conditions
like this. Vancouver Spine Care Centre makes
certain that our Vancouver chiropractic patients with forward head posture
get their thoracic spines treated! Vancouver Spine Care Centre also urges
our [[targeltocation]] chiropractic care patients with forward head carriage to do
their share, too, by doing the stabilization and
other suggested exercises!
SIMPLE TIPS FOR FORWARD NECK POSTURE CORRECTION
A few simple things help greatly. Line up your computer screen level with your eye level. Stretch regularly while doing sedentary work (computer, desk, TV). Intentionally
adjust your standing posture so you are upright.
Lean against a wall with your shoulders, head, hips all touching the wall. Listen and vigilantly perform
any neck strengthening exercises your Vancouver chiropractor recommends.
Vancouver Spine Care Centre will keep the exercises simple
so our Vancouver chiropractic patients will do them!
CONTACT Vancouver Spine Care Centre
Listen to this PODCAST
of a neck and arm pain patient helped with cervical spine Cox®
Technic treatment!
Schedule a Vancouver chiropractic visit at Vancouver Spine Care Centre
for your forward head carriage or forward head posture. Vancouver Spine Care Centre supposes
that you have already helped yourself after reading this article!
Vancouver Spine Care Centre guesses that you stretched your head up, relaxed
your shoulders down, and tucked your chin back the moment you
read the first paragraph. The first step of change is noticing
that it is needed!
