If you sit at a desk staring at a computer all day, you may be suffering from neck strain caused by “forward head position”. In this position, the shoulders are hunched, upper back is rounded, and the muscles in the upper back and neck are tense. Your head weighs about 10 pounds, and with every forward movement of your head of about 2 centimetres, the weight of the head doubles, putting more and more strain on your neck and upper back. The tightening of the shoulder and neck muscles in order to carry the load of this unnatural head position can often result in headache. As the head juts forward, it causes a restriction of blood flow to the vessels of the head, which can cause headaches. This type of prolonged poor posture can also lead to a tightening of the pectoral muscles, and weakening of the upper back muscles, causing continually hunched shoulders – a vicious cycle of imbalance and weakness in the body.
Start to become aware of your posture in daily activities, especially those which are done on a repetitive basis. Move your head back so your spine is aligned, roll your shoulders down and stand tall – not only will this help ease potential headaches and neck strain, but you’ll feel more confident and alert.
You could also stretch your shoulders and neck by interlacing your fingers behind your back, pulling your arms up to the ceiling, and bending forward at the hips, relaxing your head down to the floor. If you are sitting for long periods of time, get up at least every half hour and stretch your body. Just Sayin.