Poor Posture & Headaches

Poor posture leads to many health issues, including headaches. Headaches originating in the neck are know as cervicogenic headaches or muscle tension headaches. Muscle imbalances pull the head and shoulders forward into poor posture creating an unequal and abnormal pull on the skull thus leading to tension headaches. Sufferers of cervicogenic headaches experience a dull achy pain which increases in intensity as the muscles fatigue and tighten. The pain eventually worsens and becomes either a severe throbbing pain or a migraine type headache.

Area of Pain

Headaches originating from poor upper body posture begin in either the occipital region, back of the head, or the temples. Then they either encompass the entire head with a vice-like hand-band sensation or a stabbing pain behind the eyes and face. These headaches can be debilitating and interfere with activities of daily living such as work, driving and exercise and may be intensified by loud noises, bright lights and flickering TV and computer screens.

Muscle Imbalances

The muscles in the front of the neck become taut and overpower the rear neck muscles pulling the head forward into an incorrect posture known as forward head carriage. This improper position of the head places additional stress on the neck and upper back vertebrae and muscles which keep the head and eyes level and looking straight ahead. The muscles that attach to the front of the shoulders tighten and overpower the rotator cuff muscles which attach to the back of the shoulders and the scapula retractor muscles which connect the spine to the shoulder blades thus rolling the shoulders forward.

Upper Cross Syndrome

The incorrect posture of forward rolled shoulders and forward head carriage, called upper cross syndrome, inhibits proper motion and strength in the rotator cuff and scapula retractor muscles. This poor posture is worsened by incorrect work ergonomics, static positions and repetitive motions. This leads to a vicious cycle of muscle imbalances creating poor posture which, in turn, worsens muscle imbalances.

Neck Anatomy

The neck, also known as the cervical spine, consists of seven vertebrae and several long muscles which attach to the skull. The function of these muscles is to support and move the head. When the neck muscles are tight, they pull on the skull and create tension at the area of attachment. Eventually this increased muscle tonicity becomes so tight that the pull on the skull elicits headache pain.

Correction

Muscle imbalances and tension create the poor posture which causes the headaches. Eliminate the source of the problem by correcting the muscle imbalances. This is accomplished through stretching the tight overpowering muscles in the anterior neck, chest and shoulders and strengthening the inhibited muscles of the rotator cuff and the scapula retractor muscles.