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Forward Head Posture Facts

spinal cord.
Image via Wikipedia

As a continuation of forward head posture theme, I wanted to share a couple of other vital research tibits you need to be aware of:

1. “For every inch of forward head posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” (Kapandji, Physiology of the Joints, Volume 3)

2. “Loss of the cervical curve stretches the spinal cord 5-7 cm and causes disease.” (Dr. Alf Breig, neurosurgeon and Nobel Prize recipient)

I regularly see patients come in the door with 3-4 inches of forward head posture and they don’t even realize it. They are walking around carrying an average of 30-40lbs of additional head weight.

Equally disturbing is that 5-7cm equals 2-3 inches. Imagine stretching the spinal cord 2 inches. It is devastating situation. The impact of that stretch primarily occurs at C1, which has a control effect on the entire body.

That is how a seemingly simply thing such as forward head posture can have an effect on your entire health.

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Do You Know the Importance of Spinal Alignment

Many people are completely unaware of the importance of spinal alignment. As a result, alignment problems affect what would normally be thought of as unrelated problems. But there is so much more to the story.

Did you know this vital point? 90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine,” says Dr. Roger Sperry, Nobel Prize recipient for brain research.

Dr. Sperry demonstrated that 90 percent of the energy output of the brain is used in relating the physical body to gravity. Only 10 percent has to do with thinking, metabolism, and healing, so when you have forward head posture, your brain will rob energy from your thinking, metabolism, and immune function to deal with abnormal gravity/posture relationships and processing.

So what is normal spinal alignment? When you look at the front of a person there shoulders and hips should be level. There should be a lordotic (to the front) curve in the neck and low back. If these are present forward head posture will be present and problems will develop.

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