One of the first physical signs of aging is poor muscle tone and poor posture. When the head starts to go forward, people start to look older. We see this with older patients that get up from a chair, they are often walking before they fully straighten up.

These muscles imbalances that cause FHP do not happen overnight, in fact research is showing this to be rapidly increasing in our young people over the last decade.

The cause of this change is repetitive behaviors and body positioning. Anyone have an idea of the cause?

A Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that young people 8-18 years old spend in excess of 7 and one half hours a day using some form of mobile media. That would be cellular phones, texting, Nintendo, e-readers like Amazon, Kindle, and iPhone apps.

The consequences of FHP are: 1) Long term muscle strain, disc herniations, and pinched nerves according to Mayo Clinic. 2) Decreased respiratory dysfunction in chronic neck pain patients. Cephalgia 2-09. 3) For every inch of head forward posture, it increases the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds. 4) By loosing the normal cervical curve it can stretch the spinal cord 5-7 cm and cause disease. 5) FHP can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine, can lead to heart and vascular disease.  The gastro-intestinal tract is affected usually as a result of sluggish bowel and affects endorphins the controlling chemicals for pain in the body. Rene Cailliet MD, Univ. of So. Cal. 6) Lastly, FHP has been shown to flatten the normal curve in the neck resulting in disc compression, damage and early arthritis. Spine 1986

So what can be done to prevent or reduce FHP is you have it.

1) Be aware of your posture. If you sit at work try not to cross your legs at the ankles or knees. This flattens out your low back curve, accentuates the rounding of your shoulders and leaves you with forward head posture.

2) Exercise the upper body, muscle imbalances like upper cross syndrome are becoming increasingly common.

3) Monitor yourself and your kids with the time spent on mobile media devices. It has been compared to being as addictive as cigarette smoking  according to the National Safety Council, 28% of crashes are attributable to talking/texting on cell phones while driving.

Chiropractors have been treating and educating patients on the dangers of FHP for years and the health conditions that FHP or anterior head carriage contribute to are well researched and documented.

If you have symptoms of chronic headaches, neck pain or pain and tingling in the shoulders, arms and hands, give us a call at Haas Chiropractic Clinic in Mason City for an evaluation. It may make a difference in the quality of your life.

Dr. Rick Haas DC,FACO