What does your posture say about you?
With the era of technology come many conveniences. We are globally connected via small devices that fit in our pockets. Apps replace personal assistants, cameras are extinct, and we walk around with 1000 songs in our pockets. And yet, as smart phones get smarter, our posture gets weaker.
By looking down to check your phone, and flexing the neck anteriorly, the amount of pressure on the cervical spine multiplies. The neck supports the head while protecting the integrity of the spinal cord. With optimal postural presentation, the cervical spine maintains a curve to support the weight of the head, which on average weighs about 10 pounds. As the neck flexes forward, the cervical curve is diminished and the weight of the head dramatically increases.
Headaches and neck pain are prevalent in our society, and very often they are directly related. In fact, approximately 50% of the population suffers from cervical spine pain or headaches. 70% of patients who present with headaches also demonstrate cervical dysfunction (Goldstein & Makofsky, 2005).
Watson and Trott (1993) performed a research study concluding that patients who present with cervicogenic headaches demonstrated a significantly more prevalent occurrence of forward head posture. In addition, it was noted that patients who present with forward head posture and have associated headaches also present with isometric weakness of the upper cervical neck flexor muscles.
Headaches and neck pain are prevalent in our society, and very often they are directly related. In fact, approximately 50% of the population suffers from cervical spine pain or headaches. 70% of patients who present with headaches also demonstrate cervical dysfunction (Goldstein & Makofsky, 2005).
In addition, it was noted that patients who present with forward head posture and have associated headaches also present with isometric weakness of the upper cervical neck flexor muscles.
Hansraj (2015) evaluated the amount of pressure on the cervical spine when the neck is bent forward at varying degrees. He concluded that as the head tilts anteriorly by 15 degrees, the weight of the head increases from 10-12 pounds to 27 pounds. For example at a forward tilt of 60 degrees the weight of the head is 60 pounds!
This is a tremendous amount of unnecessary pressure to the posture system that has become the norm. According to Hansraj (2015), people spend an average of 2-4 hours per day on their cell phone with significant forward head posture. Hansraj (2015) also states, “In proper alignment, spinal stress is diminished”.
