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Could Forward Head Posture Be Making You Sick?

According to studies from Harvard Medical School, good posture not only protects you against back pain, it also improves your overall health and appearance. Poor posture, on the other hand, promotes back pain and can affect the position and function of your abdominal organs, inhibit breathing and oxygen intake, and cause headaches. It may also affect mood.

The most common postural imbalance is forward head posture. Even minor forward head posture was shown to be detrimental. From breathing and heart rate, to pain and disability, all health markers that were measured worsened as the posture deviations increased.

Why Forward Head Posture Is Detrimental To Your Health

You probably see it every day and are not even aware. Here is a short list of why this posture is such a concern:

  1. Incorrect head position leads to improper spinal function.
  2. The head in forward posture can add up to 30 lbs of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine.
  3. Forward head posture results in loss of vital (lung) capacity. Lung capacity is depleted by as much as 30%. Loss of lung capacity leads to heart and blood vascular problems.
  4. The entire gastrointestinal system is affected, particularly the large intestine. Loss of good bowel peristaltic function and evacuation is common.
  5. Freedom of motion in the first four cervical vertebrae is lost. This area is a major source of stimuli that causes production of endorphins. As a result of this loss of endorphins, (hormones that reduce pain and affect emotions), many otherwise non-painful sensations are experienced as pain.
  6. Forward head posture causes loss of healthy spine-body motion.

The Correlation Between Disease and Subluxation

According to research from the Winsor Studies, it was proven that there was nearly a 100% correlation between ‘minor curvatures’ of the spine and diseases of the internal organs, realizing the connection between the spine and the organs. This condition, as you know, is called subluxation and is the most dangerous condition we see in the office and is exactly what we are focused on correcting every time you get adjusted!

Vertebral Subluxation can be present without pain or with pain and can only be corrected by a chiropractor properly trained in spinal correction. Preventing vertebral subluxation requires improving spinal range of motion and postural exercises. This is why your home exercises and the exercises you do in the office are so important.

The Link Between Poor Posture and Scoliosis

Another major concern of posture can be scoliosis. Scoliosis is a condition where the spine loses the normal curvature and curves in an abnormal fashion. This condition is more common in women than men and is more common at a younger age.

Spinal deformity in children & adolescents accounts for the largest share (48%) of all musculoskeletal deformity health care visits. Left untreated scoliosis can take up to 14 years off your life and affect the function on muscles, tissues, organs and bodily function.

What most people do not know is that scoliosis is correctable when found early when the spine is still growing.

The average age of curve acceleration is 12 years of age. Catching this problem before 12 years of age is imperative. We have helped many young children and teenagers correct this condition with spinal corrective care. Specific Chiropractic adjustments help to restore posture by improving motion and spinal integrity, which improves afferent input into the spinal cord and brain, thus, allowing the body to comprehend and balance itself better in relation to gravity.

You never know how far reaching something you think, say or do today will affect the lives of millions tomorrow. –  BJ PALMER

June Is Scoliosis and Posture Awareness Month

Share the truth about health that most doctors won’t tell you.

To schedule a visit, contact us at (916) 259-2682.

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