If you stand with your shoulder blades and heels touching a wall and the back of your head won’t touch the wall, then you most likely have the so-called forward head posture (FHP). One of the most common postural deformities encountered by a Southampton neurosurgery professional is a posture where your neck slants forward, causing your head not to be vertically aligned with your spine.

Causes And Side Effects Of FHP

If you ask a spinal surgeon Basingstoke, chronic FHP is typically attributed to doing an activity that causes you to lean your head forward for a long time. It can range anywhere from slouching and carrying a heavy backpack to sewing, reading in bed, or practising sports that tend to utilise one side of your body (e.g. Golf).

This postural deformity can also be caused by weakness in your upper back muscles, injuries to the spine (e.g. Whiplash), improper breathing, and bone degeneration, among others. In some cases, it’s a congenital malformation that causes FHP.

Some of the biggest side effects of FHP include muscle imbalance and increased weight pressure on the spine. Researchers have found that the more your head is leaned forward, the heavier its weight will be. For instance, if its position is 60 degrees from the spine, it will weigh 60 lb; if it’s only 15 degrees, the weight is 27 lb.

Other common side effects are:

Headaches

Recurring neck pain and limited range of neck motion

Limited shoulder mobility

Numbness and tingling in your arms and hands

Muscle spasms

Back pain

Jaw pain (particularly in your temporomandibular joint)

Reduced control over your balance

Spinal disc issues (e.g. Herniated discs, bulging discs)

How To Improve FHP

The most common ways to counteract FHP are through exercise and lifestyle change. For instance, you may be advised to switch to an ergonomic chair or desk when you’re using a computer for a long time. You may also want to invest in a cervical pillow, designed to support your spine's natural curves.

As for exercises, here are some that you can try:

Chin tucks (which you can do lying down or standing against a wall)

Forward neck stretches

Chest stretches

Thoracic spine foam rolling exercises

Yoga poses

When your FHP is causing painful side effects or affecting your daily functioning, it’s best to consult a doctor. They may perform other tests to determine if there’s any other underlying or accompanying disease.

Though it’s not always the case, you may need a Southampton neurosurgery if your FHP is caused by congenital deformity or is accompanied by another serious condition.

Counteract Forward Head Posture With The Help Of An Expert

Looking for a professional to help you address FHP? Spinal Surgery Clinic offers services to manage spinal injuries and pathologies. If surgery is necessary for your condition, you can also count on their experienced spinal surgeon Basingstoke.

To learn more, visit https://www.spinalsurgeryclinic.co.uk/spinal-surgeon-basingstoke.htm. For enquiries, call them at 01256 315 025 or 022380 914437 or email them at [email protected].