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Tuesday, June 2, 2015

By Carmella Isenhour


An individual with poor posture over a period of time may develop structural problems that lead to pain. One example is the condition known as forward head posture. It can lead to pain, including headaches at the base of the skull. An appointment with a Lancaster Chiropractic professional will provide a clear explanation of the condition and how to care for it.

Consider the side view of a person with good posture. His ear is going to be aligned perfectly with the middle of his shoulder. Someone with poor posture will have the head in a forward position, which causes the vertebrae in the neck and upper back to be out of line. Undue pressure is exerted against nerves in that area causing the spine to be in an incorrect position.

It is these muscles, the suboccipitals, that prevent the chin from dropping to the level of the chest. When they are continuously contracted, pressure is exerted on the three suboccipital nerves. This pressure can result in headaches.

According to research, that forward head posture can add enough leverage on the cervical portion of the spine to force the entire spine out of the correct alignment. That can have a detrimental effect on breathing. It can also lead to the development of a hump in the upper back, between the shoulders.

The way to correct this misalignment is to realign the upper cervical vertebrae with the skull. A chiropractor uses manual adjustments to gradually ease these small bones into the optimal position. First an evaluation must be done to identify the exact location of the problem.

Your first appointment will entail taking a medical history and answering questions such as when did you notice pain, and how intense is it. A hands-on physical exam of the area is required. In most cases an x-ray is necessary to confirm the findings.

Your professionally-designed care plan may begin with a series of adjustments to the cervical spine. An exercise plan may be used between appointments and on a daily basis. However, it is the postural training provided by your chiropractor that will determine how successfully the realignment can be attained and maintained.




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