Children are now using backpacks to carry school books weighing up to an alarming 30 to 40 lbs! this forces the head forward to counter balance the weight resulting in abnormal stress to the discs, joints and nerves of the neck, shoulders and lower back.
Computer Ergonomics: Positioning computer screens to low, coupled with the repetitive motion of moving the head forward to read the screen is a primary factor in FHP.
Video Games/TV: Most kids use poor posture when playing video games and watching TV. Repetitively sitting in one position for long periods of time causes the body to adapt to this bad posture.
Trauma: Falls and traumas can cause whiplash resulting in muscle imbalance. This pulls the spine out of alignment forcing the head forward.
According to Dr. Erik Roach D.C., if the head weighs 10 lbs and the center of the ear sits directly over the center of the shoulder, the load on the spine and its tissue is only 10 lbs. However, if the head is translated forward, its weight will increase by 10 lbs. for every inch forward it is. In effect, if the center of the ear is three inches forward from the center of the shoulders, the weight of the head on the spine and its discs, joints, and nerves is 30 lbs.!
The effects of posture on health is becoming more evident. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture. The corollary of these observations is the many symptoms, including pain, may be moderated or eliminated by improved posture.
One of the most common postural problems is the forward head posture (FHP). Since we live in a forward facing world, the repetitive use of computers, TV, video games, trauma, and even backpacks have forced the body to adapt to a forward head posture. Repetitive movements in a certain direction will strengthen nerve and muscle pathways to move that way more readily.
An example would be the adaption of the body to do gymnastics easily after repetitive practice. It is the repetition of forward head movements combined with poor ergonomic postures and/or trauma that causes the body to adapt to a forward head posture.
Ideally, the head should sit directly on the neck and shoulders, like a golf ball sits on a tee. The weight of the head is more like a bowling ball than a golf ball, so holding it forward, out of alighnment, puts a strain on your neck and upper back muscles. The result can be muscle fatigue and, all too often, an aching neck. Because the neck and shoulders have to carry this weight all day in an isometric contraction, this cause neck muscles to lose blood, get damaged, fatigue, strain, cause pain, burning and fibromya.
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