Updated on: 10/7/2022
Researchers say: “Over time poor posture results in pain, muscle aches, tension and headaches, and can lead to long term complications such as osteoarthritis. Forward head carriage may promote accelerated aging of intervertebral joints resulting in degenerative joint disease.”
Forward Head Posture or FHP can be measured by taking a plumbline down from the center of the earhole and then measuring the distance to the center of C-7. A measurement of 1 inch or more is considered to cause problems. The form of FHP called “Tech Neck” is rampant in today’s society because of the use of computers and handheld devices. According to the Mayo Clinic : “FHP leads to long term muscle strain, disc herniations, arthritis and pinched nerves.”
Kapandji, (the gold standard for medical textbooks on joint physiology) states, “For every inch of Forward Head Posture, it can increase the weight of the head on the Spine by an additional 10 pounds.” The former director of the department of Physical Medicine and Rehab at the University of Southern California, Dr Rene Cailliet wrote: “Head in forward posture can add up to 30 pounds of abnormal leverage in the cervical spine. This can pull the entire spine out of alignment. Forward Head Posture (FHP) may result in the loss of 30% of vital capacity. These breath related effects are primarily due to the loss of Cervical Lordosis.” Dr Cailliet determined that FHP can reduce endorphins production by as much as 50%! He also discovered that FHP adversely affected the entire digestive tract, especially causing a sluggish bowel and trouble evacuating. Caliette also says, “most attempts to correct posture are directed towards the spine, shoulders, and pelvis. All are important, but head posture takes precedence over all others. The body follows the head. Therefore the entire body is best aligned by first restoring proper functions alignment to the head.” Dr Roger Sperry, Nobel Prize recipient for brain research, demonstrated that 90% of the brain's output is used in relating the body to gravity. Only 10% has to do with thinking, metabolism, healing and immunity. FHP causes the brain to rob energy from this meager 10%.
Studies at Harvard, reported by Amy Cuddy demonstrated that passively bringing the shoulders back, chest forward, and head up stimulates an increase in testosterone production and a decrease in Cortisol. Many experts say that sitting or standing up straight and tall causes a person to not only appear more confident, but makes one feel more in charge and at ease, and invites more empowering thoughts and memories. Similarly, being in a slumped over position promotes feeling depressed and tired, and makes it easier for negative thoughts and memories to appear.
Using the Tru-Align Body System for a minimum of 20 minutes, at least 5 days per week will encourage the cervical Thoracic and lumbar curves to reshape to a healthier bio-mechanical position. This corrects or improves FHP, while bringing the shoulders back and reducing excessive Thoracic kyphosis. It is also “idiot proof” in correcting the lumbar lordosis. If the curve is excessive or “swayback”, it reduces it, if it’s not enough or “military back”, it increases it. Either way, a beautiful “sideways smile” of a curve is installed.
The reshaping also decompresses the entire spine, taking pressure off of the spinal discs in a proper biomechanical position. Straight traction is not as effective in treating herniated or degenerative discs. It also encourages the spine to align, correcting subluxations of the spinal vertebrae, sacrum, and pelvis.
Correcting FHP takes pressure off of the TMJ joints(in addition to this, the face piece of the Tru-Align helps to relax and align the TMJ joints). Surprisingly, recent studies show that Idiopathic Scoliotic curves are straightened when FHP is reduced.Researchers hypothesize that a trigger in the neck is responsible.
Using the Tru-Align installs healthy posture and limbers scar tissues at the spinal shoulder, and SI joint tendinous attachments. It’s a passive “multi-tasking” yoga -like treatment system that corrects or improves the causes of spinal pain or dysfunction.
Most patients will achieve the desired re-shaping or reprogramming of the spine in 3 to 8 months. Maintenance of 2 to 3 times per week is recommended.