You increase the strain on your neck muscles 3-fold when you are staring into a computer for hours on end or sitting for too long.
Your head weighs approximately 8% of your bodyweight. If someone weighs 150 lbs, then their head weighs 12 lbs.
This may not sound like much especially when your head is sitting tall and properly on your neck. However, for every inch that your head slouches forward, you are adding another 8% or 12 lbs to your neck muscles! This means that for 3 inches of forward head posture in front of the computer, or Constipation can occur if insufficient fluid is consumed with a high- fiber diet. reading, or watching TV, your neck muscles have to work at holding 36 lbs. …constantly! This WILL lead to neck pain, eyestrain, shoulder issues as well as jaw issues.
Not convinced? Try this at home: Grab the heaviest hammer you can find (or mallet) and hold it in your hand so it is upright. Easy, right? Now, tilt it forward by 3” and notice your forearm straining. Do this for 2-3 hours a day for several days and you develop problems in your wrist, elbow and shoulder…
QUICK FIX:
On all 4’s, retract and hold your head for 10 seconds so that you head is in line with your trunk. In this simple position you are training your postural neck muscles to work against the downward pull of gravity. Repeat several times.
When considering a new training regimen or updating an existing one, we always ensure that your positioning is most efficient for your training. Give us a call: 514 556-4994!
