[ Home | Contents | Search | Post | Reply | Next | Previous | Up ]
From: Dr. Robles
Category: Neck/Cervical Posture
Date: 08 Aug 2006
Time: 10:13:43 -0400
Based upon the information provided, the Clavicle Splint, would be a good product to start with, along with a visit to your chiropractor. The Clavicle Splint is designed to pull the shoulders back which will help straighten your upper back area and cause your neck to move backward into a position closer to ‘normal’. It sounds like you are on the right track concerning basic assessment of your posture. The forward positioning of your neck is called anterior head carriage, and is very commonly seen in students, people who work seated, anyone who uses a computer significantly, as well as those of us who drive quite often (for work or pleasure). Anterior head carriage, although common, is not a normal healthy posture. It is a very positive sign that you recognized this on your own. The normal position of the head on the body is described as follows: looking at your body from a side profile, you should be able to visualize a vertical line going from the opening of your ear canal through the middle of your shoulder (if you feel where your upper arm meets your shoulder you will feel your arm bone, and that’s where the line should pass). Often times with women, the weight of the breasts, self esteem concerning their breasts, or other factors will perpetuate postural changes such as the shoulders rounding forward, often times accompanied by anterior head carriage. In addition to the clavicle splint, it would be wise to stretch your pectoral muscles on a daily basis as well as retrain your rhomboids and middle trapezius muscles. The fact that you’re under thirty will work in your favor, as will a good diet (meaning the quality of what you eat, not necessarily losing weight).
Additionally, retraining the adjacent curves (neck and low back) will be necessary to solidify the changes. Keep in mind the reason you have curves in your spine is to distribute the weight of your body, flattened or over accentuated curves are your body’s adaptations to abnormal postural strains. Our body’s adapt to the way we treat them and this protective measure can sometimes cause pain or discomfort in other areas of your body now or in the future. Retraining the neck and low back with a device such as the posture pump (full spine) will help support the changes in your upper back and shoulders. You can find more info about the posture pump here: http://www.lucidforce.com/posturecorrection.htm
As with any new exercise program (changing your posture is considered exercise) you should have your doctor make sure that there are no contraindications for your plans. Consultation of your chiropractor or other family doctor is strongly encouraged. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions in the future, if you need anything from this post clarified, or if you would like a referral for a chiropractor in your area. I wish you much health and success in your endeavor to improve your quality of life.
Dr. Robles