How poor posture causes neck pain

​Question:  Have you ever held a chain by one end and wiggled your hand? What happens to the chain?

Answer:  The whole chain wiggles as well. The other end of the chain might even flip around all over the place. Not surprising we call this a chain reaction!

The same transfer of energy and movement can happen with our posture. When we have changed posture in our feet or lower limbs, this can change the posture of other parts of our body. The same is the case with the posture of our face and jaw.

​The changes that occur in our overall body posture in response to a change in one part of our body are called ‘closed kinematic chain reactions’.

Unfortunately, as a result of this phenomenon, poor posture anywhere in our body can manifest as poor posture in our neck (cervical spine). The most common type of postural distortion in our neck is a forward head posture. It is becoming even more common these days with the increasing use of computers and mobile phones

When our head is held forward, you can appreciate that the muscles in the back of the neck are constantly being stretched which can result in neck pain. But there is more to this story…

When we have forward head posture the muscles also have to work harder to hold up the head. We don’t have to put our head too far forward to have the muscles work twice as hard. Our head should balance nicely on the top of our spine, with the muscles using very little energy to keep it balanced. Hence poor posture can also lead to becoming fatigued or tired more easily. But it doesn’t stop there…

Take the time to move your head as far forward as you can. Now try to turn your head to the left or right. Do you notice that you cannot turn it as far? This is because the joints in your neck are designed to move maximally when your posture is perfect. Over time, an inability of any joint to move well will result in osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is when the joints break down, the bones may change shape and the discs can wear out. When these processes become painful the pain is generally not short term pain, but long term (chronic) pain.

At Catalyst Chiropractic, we conduct postural analysis on our patients. This may involve taking photos and digitally analyzing them or taking x-rays when necessary. We take the time to assess the whole chain of possible distortions including digital foot scan analysis and dental history. We can help you understand the causes of your postural changes and ways to help.

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by Catalyst Health and Wellness Group