As our way of living is changing very frequently and we turning more and more towards sedentary/damaging lifestyle, we are becoming more prone to few of the most common Lifestyle diseases. Above all we are looking for symptomatic relief only and not for the cause. 

One of the most common problems is Forward Neck Posture. Our normal spine is having 3 natural curves:

1. Cervical Curve

2. Thoracic Curve

3. Lumbar Curve

The normal cervical lordosis curve (Convex anterior), that enables comfortable movement of the neck in a healthy cervical spine. However, when there is a deviation from the normal it may leads to problems such as pain and discomfort. The normal cervical lordosis angle is 20 degrees to 40 degrees. 

If there is a decrease in cervical lordosis to <20 degrees, there is a fairly good chances of developing clinical symptoms.

One of the commonest associated syndromes with decrease/increase in cervical lordosis angle is “Upper Cross Syndrome”. Common characteristics of upper crossed syndrome include:

a. The head is consistently or often in a forward position

b. Inward curvature in the portion of the spine containing the neck (increased cervical lordosis) and compensatory increased thoracic kyphosis. In any case, our body tries to maintain point of center of gravity constant, so secondary curves developed in the spine.

c. Elevated, protracted, or rounded shoulders, where the muscles are in a continuous state of being pulled or stretched forward.

d. The visible portion of the shoulder blade sits out instead of lying flat (scapula winging).

The deformed muscles associated with upper cross syndrome put stress on the surrounding muscles, tendons, bones, and joints, causing most people develop symptoms that include: 

• Headache

• neck pain

• chest pain and tightness

• pain in the upper back, especially the shoulder

• pain in the jaws

• tiredness

• difficulty sitting, reading, and watching TV

• driving for more than a short period because of pain or muscle tightness or soreness

• restricted range of motion in the neck or shoulders

• numbness, tingling, and pain in the upper arms

• pain and reduced range of motion in the ribs

• lower back pain

• and lot of other clinical symptoms because of “Autonomic Disturbances”Long term Wrong Posture and pain can leads to continuous irritation of stellate ganglion.

 The stellate ganglion in 80% of population is formed by the fusion of first thoracic and inferior cervical ganglion. It is oval shaped, measuring 1 inch long and 0.5 inch wide. It lies anterior to the neck of the first rib and the C7 transverse process. It is a purely sympathetic ganglion responsible for sympathetic response in our body. 

As per literature, it is found that 1 inch forward shifting of out head can increase weight of our head by 3 fold. Also increased tension exerted by this increased weight on our supporting muscles can leads to continuous firing of stellate ganglion and this can leads to sign and symptoms of sympathetic over activity. If we see the common signs and symptoms associated with “Sympathetic Over activity”, we can easily understand the pathophysiology of common lifestyle problems like Diabetes, Hypertension, Hypothyroidism, Chronic Pain, Depression and Indigestion.

 So don’t avoid your abnormal postural pattern and correct yourself to avoid the development of some of the manageable lifestyle disease.