What would you list as some common health conditions of the new generation?
- Foot problems from kids skating around on Heelys?
- Thumb and wrist pain from cell phones and video games?
- Back problems from sitting in front of the television or computer?
These are all common conditions. But today I want to bring attention to a problem I treat more often than all the above – and in all ages of patients.
ANTERIOR HEAD CARRIAGE
Anterior Head Carriage is a fancy way of saying the neck is too far forward. The shoulders will usually slump forward as well, with a decreased or reversed curve of the neck (the middle of the cervical spine curving backward instead of forward). The resulting problems into the upper back and shoulders are called Upper Crossed Syndrome, a condition involving tight muscles in one section of our upper back and weakened muscles in the other.
COMMON CAUSES
A chiropractor in Florida calls the problem “Text Neck” since it is so common in teens that are compulsively looking down at their phones while texting friends. It is easy to picture a teen looking down at their phone with that poor posture that leads to headaches and neck pain. But keep in mind, it is not only teenagers that use their phones like this. It applies to all of us and is a problem with many similar causes.
Neck and upper back problems can occur from repeatedly looking down and working with our arms in front of us. Can you think of any professions this applies to? Dentists, welders, receptionists, or really any job at a desk. People driving cars or trucks also frequently have similar symptoms in their neck, shoulders, arms, and upper back.
FINDING A SOLUTION
At our clinic in North Ogden, I will examine your head, spine, and arms to determine the cause of your problems and then walk you through the treatment plan for repairing the damage. The injury has actually been a series of small, repetitive traumas to your joints, ligaments, and muscles. It has taken a long time to get to where it is and will be a critical process to return it to proper function. We want your head firmly planted on top of the shoulders and not falling forward and pulling at all the muscles down into your back.
For more good reading, here is an article from the LA Times concerning this widespread problem: Teens’ compulsive texting can cause neck injury, experts warn. You may also want to take a moment to look over the Florida chiropractor’s website: www.text-neck.com.