Anterior Head Carriage

Anterior Head Carriage (Picture): This is a condition where someone’s head is forward relative to their neck, upper back and shoulders. Generally, there is a reaction to this issue. If the head goes forward then the structures that are holding up the head have to change in relationship. You often see this when someone starts to develop a small hump at the top of the upper back (just below the neck). For every inch that the head is forward, it feels like there is about an added 10 pounds of pressure on the neck and upper back. This is where torque is working against you. This by itself can cause neck pain, upper back pain and shoulder pain because it puts stress on the individual parts of the spine and shoulders because of the changes in structure. The changes increase the pressure on the joints which can speed up the degenerative processes speeding up arthritis. Some people have pain that radiates from this condition as well. Some people get Headaches from this situation. Some people will get radiating numbness, tingling or pain down one or both arms and can be as far as the hands. This situation is usually very treatable. This is an example of a cause of a condition. If the downward problems (symptoms) are treated without addressing the underlying cause then the symptoms will just keep coming back.