Forward Head Posture

How well your brain works is closely connected to the posture of the cervical spine (neck). Our bodies are designed so that the base of the head sits in an optimal position for structure and function. However, the lives our city children lead today do not match the way our bodies were designed. The spinal cord carries a heavy burden—literally. In fact, the spinal cord is an extension of the brain and plays a crucial role in the health of the entire body. Forward head posture is undesirable, but why?

Throughout the day, your child often sits with their head bent forwards. They may look down to read a book or use a smartphone, for example. Or they may watch television or sit at a laptop. These postures place considerable strain on the spine. They may also lead to misalignment of the joints in the neck. This restricts the range of motion and creates instability in a structure that is normally strong.

What to look out for:

1. For an optimal position and strength, the ear should line up with the shoulder when posture is viewed from the side. Forward head posture is becoming increasingly common in children.

2. If a child is “clumsy”, always trips or walks into walls and so on, they may have forward head posture. Feedback to the parts of the brain responsible for balance and coordination is impaired. The brain is unable to register precisely where the child is in space.

3. An unstable posture also disrupts feedback to the brain that regulates an area called the temporal lobe. The temporal lobe can be compared with the “terrible twos” stage in children. At that age, they often respond inappropriately to situations because their brain does not yet have the capacity to understand them. If an older child or adult consistently responds inappropriately, however, misaligned posture may be considered.

4. Looking more deeply at the effects of instability in the neck, we see that the cortex is responsible for our intellect, personality, and emotional and social intelligence. When feedback from the neck is affected, the neurological pathway carrying information from the cerebellum to the cortex is also disrupted. A child’s cognitive output and learning strategies may be compromised.

5. Incorrect head posture also has a biomechanical effect on how we function. When the head rotates forwards, rib movement is reduced. This also decreases lung capacity and the amount of oxygen we take in. This reduction in oxygen affects the brain’s ability to function properly, and children and adults often display abnormal breathing patterns or sleep apnoea.

A fun anatomy fact:

The purpose of the neck is to protect the spinal cord, support the weight of the skull and allow the head to move in different ways. From birth, you are programmed to lift your head. This is when the curve in your neck develops, which is why tummy time is so important for babies.

At our Wellbeing Chiropractic practice in Amsterdam, we realign your spine so that the free flow of information to your brain is not compromised by disconnections or blockages that may be caused by injury, poor posture or inadequate development of the spinal curve, for example.

More about tummy time and why your baby needs it