Forward Head Posture Syndrome – The Association Between Chiropractic Headaches and Posture
Forward Head Posture Syndrome is also known as “forward head carriage”. It is a posture disorder where the cervical spine sets off into an anterior position. With today’s lifestyle, this condition occurs more often and it is estimated that 90% of the population suffers from it. We see workers hunched over their work and at their computers the whole day and children watching television and playing video games, and carrying heavy backpacks on their way to school. If left untreated, this may lead to nerve, meningeal and disc compression and poor health.
Try to imagine a person with a perfect posture standing upright from one side. There would be an imaginary center of gravity line running just in front of the ear hole through the slight bump on the top-middle of the shoulder. Normally, the center of gravity of the head is somewhat forward of this line so that a very slight muscle tone keeps the head moving forward. The tone prevents sudden uncontrolled movements of the head such as lolling.
A bunch of nerves called suboccipital nerve bundle is situated between the base of the head and the top of the neck. It is continuous with the meningeal sheath that covers the brain. This sheath can be the cause of your headache. The joints, muscles and ligaments are taken into consideration by chiropractors upon approaching the Forward Head Posture Syndrome. To get rid of headache permanently, chiropractors correct the cause instead of focusing on the symptoms.
To treat Forward Head Posture Syndrome, a chiropractor aims to relieve muscle and ligament tension by restoring the proper C-shaped curve of the neck. Forward head posture occurs slowly over time, so the techniques involving pressure are usually combined with chiropractic adjustments and muscle rehabilitation. Another effective approach is to enhance the flexibility of the muscles of the front neck.
After the treatment, the forward head posture is eliminated and the chiropractor will give a simple home program with lifestyle advices to prevent the return of the problem. Other symptoms associated with Forward Head Posture Syndrome such as neck pain and shoulder tension are eliminated once the forward posture is successfully treated.
You need to do your part as well if you want to completely get rid of your headache due to forward head posture. Always follow your chiropractor’s advice to prevent your pain from coming back. If you sit at a desk all day, don’t forget to get up and stretch every 15-20 minutes. Always keep a good posture, making sure you are sitting up straight with your head in an upright position. If you have a child, keep the weight of your child’s backpack not more than 15% of his/her body weight.