Poor Neck Posture Can Lead to More Problems!
(Video Script)
I’d like to pay homage to three physicians, who through their clinical research have helped me understand a lot about the cervical spine.
When a Nerve is Irritated, Muscles Spasm
The first is Dr. Hilton. What Dr. Hilton found is when a nerve is irritated, muscle spasms. The key words are ‘guard and protect from further injury’. So when you see someone walking around with their shoulder pulled up and in all day, it’s just an example of Hilton’s Law.
How do you know if you have normal range of motion in your cervical spine? We have this device here, which is called a CROM (Cervical Range of Motion instrument), and what it does is measure your flexion. Forward should be 50 degrees; and extension should be 60 degrees. When you look at lateral flexion, you should go 45 degrees. When you turn your head, it’s a rotation, and you should be going 80 degrees. If you have deviations of any of those numbers, it’s just an example of Hilton’s Law.
If the Curve of Your Neck Decreases, You’re Going to Develop Problems
The second doctor I’d like to recognize is Dr. Ruth Jackson. She was an orthopedic radiologist, and she did a lot of research on the cervical spine. What we have is 7 cervical vertebrae. The discs, like the vertebral body, are weight bearers. On the back side, the joints allow for movement. There is your brain (your computer), your cords and extension of it, and just like a tree out there, from your ears to the bottom of your chest you have 31 pairs of spinal nerves inside. Now what she did is measurements at C2 and C7 and found that the normal Lordotic curve of your neck should be 35 to 45 degrees. If that curve is decreased, you’re going to start to develop problems, which is usually nerve irritation, which is Hilton’s Law.
The More Forward You Hold Your Head, the More Stress That Goes To the Base of the Neck
The third doctor I’d like to recognize is Dr. Dowager. What Dr. Dowager found is that if you have a forward posture of your head and a rounding of your shoulders chronically, not only do you develop arthritis in your neck and disc joints, but the neck muscles and the upper back muscles would basically be replaced with scar tissue and fat. Now I think we all can agree that bad posture is not sexy.
If you’re interested in changing your posture in your neck and shoulders, give me a call. My office number 480-951-5006, or schedule your appointment here. You have a great day!
