When your mother told you to stand up straight, she probably didn’t know that poor posture affected over 100 joints, dozens of muscles, diminished lung and cardio capacity, accelerated degenerative joint disease (‘arthritis’), reduced physical performance, and lowered and shortened the quality of life.

A greater problem is that many health care professionals don’t understand or appreciate the relationship between posture and health, quality of life and longevity.

The most common abnormal posture is called Forward Head Posture (FHP)-“Tech/Text Neck” . Using the simplest definition, FHP is described as carrying the head forward of the center of the shoulders. This forward positioning of the neck and head then causes hunching and rounding of the shoulders and a curved upper back.

This may bring up images of our grandmothers with a ‘dowagers hump’ at the top of their back. However, in today’s society most adults stand and walk with their head thrust forward, their shoulders hunched forward, and their upper back rounded. We’re also seeing it even more in kids, starting with 4 year olds.

Why is it that most people develop this type of posture? We live in a flexion dominant society, which tends to consist primarily of sedentary, hunched forward activities like sitting at desks, working on the computer, driving our cars, watching TV, playing video games, and now blackberries and text messaging.

The Effects of “Tech/Text Neck”- Forward Head Posture on Health

The head, about the shape and weight of a bowling ball, is subject to the same laws of gravity as other objects. As the head moves forward, gravity takes hold and pulls it towards the ground. Rene Calliet, MD estimated that for each inch the head is held forward, it increases the work load on the muscles exponentially – 10 fold for every inch. That means if your head is one inch in front of your shoulders it effectively weighs 20 lbs., and of course this extra muscular load is transmitted down the spine loading the vertebra and discs.

The long-term effects of forward carriage of the head include:

  • Rounding of the shoulders and compression of the thoracic cavity
  • Fatigue of the neck, shoulders, and upper back due to an increased work load to hold the head up
  • Abnormal stress loads on the spinal joints and discs increasing susceptibility to injury
  • Abnormal stress loads on the joints over time leading to degenerative changes known as spinal degenerative arthritis or degenerative disc disease
  • Stretching/narrowing of spinal cord within the neck leading to reduced neurological connection between the brain and body
  • likelihood of an increased lumbar lordosis

These abnormal changes can cause a domino effect, first effecting the supporting muscles of the head and neck then leading to problems in the middle back and even down into the lower back. This abnormal muscle tension pulls on the spine leading to joint dysfunction and abnormal loads on the discs. Over time this abnormal spinal position most commonly leads to neck pain, headaches, disc problems, nerve problems, back pain and degeneration of the spine.

Forward head posture has also been linked with a decrease in vital lung capacity as much as 30%. This shortness of breath can potentially lead to heart and blood vascular disease.

According to the Journal of American Geriatrics older men and women with Forward Head Posture-“Tech/Text Neck”  or/and hyperkyphosis or humping of the middle back have a higher mortality rate. The journal ‘Spine’, states all measures of health showed lower scores in people with forward head posture. Current research shows how the degenerative process in the spine and discs that has been ongoing for years can be stopped and reversed. It is never too late for grandparents to make a change.

This forward head posture is seen in many children of school age and most adolescents. Just as you take your children to the dentist to get their teeth checked, kids should have their spines and postures evaluated to determine if they have developing poor posture and spinal problems.

A spine and posture assessment by a chiropractor who has done additional training in Clinical Biomechanics of Posture and correction is the most reliable and accurate way to determine if you have Forward Head Posture-“Tech/Text Neck” and spinal problems, and to learn what can be done to correct it.