When you’re a student or at a job that requires a lot of time in the books or at the desk, watch out for forward head. What happens is that constantly having your head down at the desk or down to the laptop on your lap etc … starts to get to your neck.
This is how neck alignment starts to change. If everyday you are reading with your head down your posture will start to shift that way. Hence the reason we see so much forward head posture out there today- reading, head down at the laptop, hours in the car or at the computer- your head starts to shift forward.
Forward head means your neck alignment is shifting and you may have lost some of the neck curve. This, in turn, means possible nerve pressure.
Keep posture on your mind, working to correct bad posture. Also, take regular breaks when working, utilizing neck stretches and neck exercises to keep your neck mobile.
Another helpful thing when reading or studying is to use a book end or book stand to prop your book on. This keeps you looking forward versus downward. When I was a student studying in the library a lot of us used to grab a metal bookstand from one of the shelves and use it to put our book or notes on. Then I noticed shortly after the bookstore even started to sell one!
Cartoon source: CartoonCrunch.com
Additional Reading
- The Dreaded “Hunchback” – How To Correct That Area Of Your Upper Back That Pops Out And Looks Funny!
- Improving your Neck Posture
- Choose the Right Neck Pillow for Comfort and Support
- Can Forward Head Posture Cause Pain?
- The Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Neck Posture & Get Rid of Neck Pain
- Cervical Supports and Neck Traction
