poor posture causes neck strain, disc and nerve damage

proper posture while texting and reading

Im sitting here at a local Seattle coffee shop just observing how people relate to their computers, books, and mobile devices and what i see is a room full of people with terrible posture.   The effects of  poor posture are so directly related to neck and upper back pain that it would be easy for me to pick out who is in pain and who isnt.   One of the most common and damaging postural problems is FHP or Forward Head Posture.   In ideal head and neck posture the head is held such that the ear canal is directly over the center of the shoulders.   FHP is when the head begins to move forward from this position.  When you’re texting do you look down at your phone as you type the message?  if yes, then you’re in Forward Head Posture.   When reading, do you have the book flat on the table and look down as you read?  This is FHP.  When using your computer, do you round your upper back and crane your neck as you type and look in at the screen?  This too is FHP.    Consider this…your head is like a 10lb. bowling ball on a stalk (your neck).  Seriously, the neck is a thin column of 7 stacked bones with a delicate spinal cord passing though them.  Surrounded by more nerves, blood vessels to your brain, and dozens of straping muscles to hold it up.  Now… for every inch your head is forward from the center of the shoulder it stretches the spinal cord and adds 10lbs to the load your neck and upper back muscle have to hold.  So if you look down to text, the head is about 5 inches forward.  This not only compresses spinal discs and stretches the spinal cord, but adds over  50lbs to the workload of your upper back and neck muscles!   No wonder your muscles get fatigue! Imagine holding a 50lb bowling bowl in your right arm for even 3-4 hour a day and what will you get?  A seriously tired arm!    Keep this up day after day and your spine, discs, and muscles will  become strained, damaged and undergo permanent degenerative changes.  In the early stages this is often painless; in the later stages the pain is often constant.     According to the prestigious American Journal of Pain Management,  FHP can cause  neck pain, headaches, upper back pain, radiating pain in arms, numbness and tingling in hands,  and has a negative affect on blood pressure, pulse, and lung capacity.   And as stated in the Mayo Clinic Health Letter Vol. 18, #3, March 2000, the effects of long term forward head posture lead to “myospasm, disc herniations, osteoporosis and pinched nerves.”   In most cases Forward Head Posture is correctable.   In our office, we see both early and late stage effects of Forward Head Posture  and encourage everyone to change how they interface with their computers, phones, books and many activities of daily living.   We’ve had tremendous success, with both early and late stage FHP,   by utilizing both posture  re-education, specific chiropractic corrective adjustments, and special corrective exercises to actually correct Forward Head Posture and not simply cover up the symptoms temporarily with dangerous pain killers and muscle relaxers.   Forward Head Posture is easy to detect and can be corrected with the specific chiropractic treatment program that we offer at The Vital Energy Center.   If you or someone you is in pain, give us a call, we’re happy to help!

Chiropractor Capitol Hill Seattle

Seattle Chiropractor Capitol Hill

Chiropractic Capitol Hill Seattle

Yours in Health!

Many of my current clients have told me that when they went to their regular doctor following an accident, they received a brief examination, given some medication and released. Few of them were x-rayed, and even fewer were referred to chiropractors to detect spine and muscle injuries. A February 2001 study in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology revealed that accident victims, classified as having “minor” injuries experienced a threefold increase of neck and shoulder pain 7 years after their accidents. Another study published in 1997 in the American Journal of Arthritis and Rheumatology found that 21.6% of adults with neck injuries (whiplash) developed Fibromyalgia with 1 year of their injury! Don’t just walk away from the accident and hope that you will be fine. You have the right to a complete chiropractic evaluation to detect subtle injuries to the spine and muscles that can result in an increased risk of headache, back pain, fatigue, stomach pain, sleep disturbance and general ill health years later. If you or someone you know has been in an auto accident, call our office today at 206-860-9090 to schedule a chiropractic evaluation.  Take control of your healthcare, choose chiropractic!

ICE: decreases the flow of circulation, decreases swelling after an acute injury, decreases pain impulses, and INCREASES muscle and ligament tension. Best applied after an acute injury in which a sprain/strain has occurred and where there is swelling. Also, when unusual or strenuous physical activity is followed by muscle or joint pain, its best to apply ice. Never apply ice directly to the skin, wrap the ice pack in a cloth before placing over the injured area. Ice is typically applied for :10 minutes every hour for the first 1-3 days, but its best to consult your doctor for the exact treatment frequency.

HEAT: increases circulation of blood and decreases muscle and ligament tension. Best used to relieve chronic muscle and ligament tension. Moist heat penetrates deeper into the body than dry heat and be sure to dry the area after use to prevent rapid cooling.

Hope that helps!! If you have questions let me know, I’d be happy to help.