Rene Cailliet M.D., director of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Southern California says the following regarding mechanical derangements of the hard and soft tissues of the spine:
• Incorrect head position, leads to improper spinal function.
• Both the neck and lower back have normal and necessary lordotic curvatures
• Both proper cervical and lumbar lordoses are necessary for normal function.
• With a forward extended head (FHP), normal lordosis is lost both in the cervical and lumbar spine.
• The shoulders are rotated inward and come forward with the head position.(1)
Dr. Cailliet, explains the effects of FHP as follows:
1. Head in forward posture can add up to thirty (30) pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine. This can pull the entire spine out of alignment.
2. Forward head posture results in loss of vital capacity of the lungs. Lung capacity is depleted by as much as 30%. This shortness of breath can then lead to heart and blood vascular disease. These breath related effects happen primarily because the loss of the cervical lordosis blocks the action of the hyoid muscles, especially the rib lifting action is necessary for complete aeration of the lungs. Loss of the cervical lordosis reduces the patients lung and vital capacity up to 30%. (2,1,3)
3. Loss of gastrointestinal function:*The entire gastrointestinal system is affected; particularly the large intestine.* Loss of good bowel peristaltic function and evacuation is a common effect of forward head posture.
4. Forward head posture causes an increase in discomfort and pain because: *Proprioceptive signals from the first 4 cervical (upper neck) vertebrae are a major source of the stimuli which create the body`s pain controlling chemicals (endorphins).(4,1) * With inadequate endorphin production, many otherwise non painful sensation are experienced as pain.(2,4) Forward head posture dramatically reduces endorphins production by limiting the range of motion of the cervical spine. (2,4)
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