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

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!

For a limited time, We’re offering our introductory exam for only $77!* (reg. $225). Here’s what we’ll do: an in-depth chiropractic consultation and evaluation including a computerized spinal exam, postural evaluation, and 70-pt muscle evaluation. When we’re finished, if we can help you we’ll tell you right away, and if we can’t, we’ll try to help you find someone who can.

Great Care & a Great Value:
You’ll be glad to know that further care is very affordable – We bill most major health insurance, auto insurance, and labor & industries. We also offer easy payment options if you have little or no insurance coverage. And you can be sure that we’ll treat you with the utmost care and respect in our office.

We’re here to help!
Meaghan, our office manager, is fantastic & she’s available to answer your questions and schedule your appointment.

This is your chance to find out what chiropractic is, how it works,
and how we can help you.

But remember, it’s a limited time offer and i don’t want you to miss
out, so call Meaghan now at 206.860.9090 to schedule your appointment.

*By the way, i want you to know there is no pressure, obligation, or hidden fees associated with this offer.
Sincerely,

Jared Kohler B.Sc,D.C.

“Spinal Pain, headache, bloodpressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture. The corollary of these observations is thatmany symptoms, including pain mayb e moderated or eliminated by improved posture.” Am. Journal of Pain Management Vol 4. #1 Jan 1994.

One of the most destructive postural problems is FHP (or forward head posture). FHP is when your head is positioned out in front of your shoulders. It develops as a result of holding the chin toward the chest while reading, after rear-end car accidents, sleeping on your back with thick pillows under the head, and due to poor head positioning during computer use.

Why is FHP such a problem? Because it takes the natural curve out of the neck and significantly increases the stress on the spine, muscles, and discs. For every inch that your head is held forward the compressive forces placed on the spine increase 100%. When the spinal discs, and joints are subject to increased stress for a sustained period of time they begin to deform and permanent changes can take place. If left uncorrected, forward head posture can have serious health consequences.

“FHP leads to long term muscle strain, disc herniations, arthritis, and pinched nerves” Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Vol.18, #3, March 2000.

Heres how you can lessen the damaging effects of FHP:

First: Seek chiropractic care! Chiropractic corrective care can significantly reduce the effects of forward head posture on the spine. Gentle adjustments to the spine can help reduce spinal misalignments and stress and help restore the natural curve of your neck and bring your head back over your shoulders. Thereby significantly improve the integrity of the spine and nerve system.

Second: Avoid the “chin-to-chest” posture while reading. Instead, keep your head up, use a bookstand or simply bring reading material up to your eyes instead of your eyes down to the reading material.

Third: When using your computer, set the monitor at eye level so that when looking straight ahead, you gaze at the upper 1/3 or the monitor. Also, use a stand up clipboard or monitor clip for papers that you are working from so as to avoid bending and turning the neck to view papers that are flat on the desk. Many office supply stores have versions of paper stands or copy stands that attach to the computer monitor.

Forth: Use a headset when talking on the phone to avoid a sideways kink of the neck which occurs when you sandwich the phone between your ear and shoulder

Fifth: When sitting for long periods of time, take a moment ever :30 minutes and notice your posture. Then sit up straight, elevate your chest, and bring your head back over your shoulders. Every hour get up from the chair and stand with your back against the wall. Turn your palms forward and lightly squeeze your shoulder blades together. Press the back of your head gently into the wall, hold for 5 seconds and relax. walk away from the wall, but keep that chest elevated and head back over the shoulders. It’s gonna feel strange at first, but your body will get used to it.

Maintaining good posture is a lifelong commitment. And its worth it! By making a few small changes in your posture and having great chiropractic care you’re more likely to avoid the damage and degeneration that comes with spinal and postural neglect and instead have a healthy spine for a lifetime!