How Poor Head Posture Can Cause Neck Pain And Headaches & How To Treat It

Headaches and neck pain could be coming from your poor head posture.

Are you aware that you have a forward head posture? When sitting or standing, check is your head poking forward in front of your shoulders? This is called a forward head posture.

The natural position for your head is to rest directly over your shoulders.

When you carry your head in front of your shoulders, either when you are driving or at work, this puts unnecessary strain on the joints and surrounding musculature in your spine causing strain on your neck muscles, spinal facets and discs.

Strain to the neck muscles is caused by over stretching. Constantly translating your head and neck in front of your shoulders causes the muscles in your neck and upper back to over stretch which will eventually cause damage to the muscle fibres causing spasm and pain. Spasm and pain in the neck will lead to the onset of headaches.

The cervical spine, like your lumbar and thoracic spine, has a natural curve. A constant forward head posture will eventually cause the curve in your neck to straighten which will start putting unnecessary force through the joints of the cervical spine.

Take the time in your busy work day to become aware of your head posture.

When you are driving in your car make sure you sit all the way back in your car chair and place your head against the head rest.

When you are at work make sure you are seated all the way back in your office chair with your back resting against the back of the chair with your feet flat on the floor and your knees at 90 degrees.

Correct head posture can prevent the onset of neck pain and headaches.