Forward Head Posture (FHP) is on the rise.

With its apt name, the so-called “reader’s neck,” is a position where the head is forward of it’s center of gravity, the spine. Traditionally reserved for avid readers, the posture is now more widespread and available to everyone through computers, tablets and cell phones. As an office of chiropractic, we are seeing more people come in with forward head posture and this is alarming because of the actual physiological effect. Studies suggest that for every inch the head is held forward, pressure to the spine is increased by 10 pounds; many people are holding 2-3 inches forward and are unaware until they experience the premature onset of degenerative vertebral conditions. 

Let’s perform a simple test.

It’s called the wall test, and it goes like this: 

• Heels shoulder width apart, stand up straight against a wall.
• Let your buttocks and shoulder blades touch the wall.
• Is the back of your head touching the wall?

If not, chances are you have forward head posture. This is a great exercise to illustrate how pervasive FHP is: many of us are unaware that we are magnifying the pressure to our own spines. And if we had the choice, we would certainly not be doing it!

How we help at Scorca Chiropractic Center

Do not fear: FHP is highly common and reversible. At our office in Fremont, we help by conducting postural analysis to determine how good your posture is throughout the day- sitting, standing, sleeping. With FHP, a common problem is weakness in the neck muscles- those directly responsible for the weight of the head. The muscles that hold your head straight above the spine are often weak from non-use while accessory muscles are strained from trying to support the head’s new position. With attention to these muscles, stretching and strengthening we can help rebuild the strength of the region that supports the head. From here, awareness is key- when you feel your head creeping forward it’s time to correct. Give our office a call to start fixing forward head posture today!

Dr. Francis Scorca, D.C.