Executive Chiropractic of Iowa guesses that you are feeling
most likely one of these things right now:
tight jaw, stiff shoulders edging up toward
your ears, chin tilting down, head jutting
forward on your neck. And if you are on your
cellphone reading this, you are likely doing all of these at once!
Forward head carriage or forward head posture (that Wikipedia (1) calls
“Justin Bieber Head” and "iHunch"!) is well-known to many of us. Cell phone use, unsuitable computer screen
set-up, and stress may all play a part. This posture makes our 10 pound heads to stick
out and off of our necks. Not a pretty vision
or healthy situation! Executive Chiropractic of Iowa can help!
FORWARD HEAD CARRIAGE / FORWARD NECK POSTURE EXPLAINED
What is it? Forward head carriage occurs when
your neck juts forward over your first spinal vertebra, C1
(cervical vertebra 1). Each inch forward boosts 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
directing care to the neck itself only would
help most in resolving
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 discovered 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) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa uses
Cox® Technic, a comfortable stretching treatment for the neck and
thoracic spine that is very effective for spinal conditions
like this. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa makes sure that our West Des Moines chiropractic patients with forward head posture
have their thoracic spines treated! Executive Chiropractic of Iowa also encourages
our [[targeltocation]] chiropractic care patients with forward head carriage to do
their part, too, by doing the stabilization and
other suggested exercises!
SIMPLE TIPS FOR FORWARD NECK POSTURE CORRECTION
A few simple things help a great
deal. Align your computer screen level with your line
of vision. Stretch frequently while participating
in inactive work (computer, desk, TV). Consciously
modify your standing posture so you are straight.
Lean against a wall with your shoulders, head, hips all are
coming in contact with the wall. Listen and vigilantly do
any neck strengthening exercises your West Des Moines chiropractor recommends.
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa will make sure the exercises are simple
so our West Des Moines chiropractic patients will do them!
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to this PODCAST
of a neck and arm pain patient helped with cervical spine Cox®
Technic treatment!
Schedule a West Des Moines chiropractic visit at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
for your forward head carriage or forward head posture. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa bets
that you have already helped yourself after reading this article!
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa bets 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’s needed!
