Forward Head Posture Treatment in Windsor

Our Windsor Chiropractor Can Treat Forward Head Tilt

Forward head tilt is a cause of Upper-Crossed Syndrome (UCS), also referred to as proximal or shoulder girdle crossed syndrome. In UCS, tightness of the upper trapezius and levator scapulae muscles on the back side of the body cross with tightness of the pectoralis major and minor, which are found on the front of the body. Weakness of the deep neck flexors on the front of the neck is accompanied by weakness of the middle and lower trapezius on the back of the body. This pattern of imbalance creates joint dysfunction, particularly in the neck and upper back.

Causes of Forward Head Posture Issues:

UCS is the consequence of a chain reaction of morphological, structural and biomechanical changes over time, predominantly due to habits and routines. Contrary to popular belief, UCS does not begin in the upper back and neck. 

Posterior pelvic tilt is the main catalyst of forward head posture issues. Although a posterior pelvic tilt can be the cause of several somatic dysfunctions, the main cause is poor sitting posture. This poor posture lays the groundwork for eventual forward head tilt. Residual health problems as a result of forward head posture issues can include:

  • Spinal Degeneration
  • Cervicogenic Type and/or Tension Headaches
  • Shoulder, Neck and Upper Back Pain
  • Tightness and Pain in the Chest
  • Pain and/or numbness in the upper limbs
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Low Back Pain
  • Myofascial Adhesions
  • Reduced Lung Capacity
  • Nerve Impingement and Compression
  • Rotator Cuff Injury
  • And More!

It is important to note that forward head tilt may be manifested by other pathologies, stressing the importance of a holistic approach to diagnosing and treating this condition.

Male chiropractor smiles as he adjusts neck of female patient laying on treatment table
Female chiropractor assesses neck of female patient while she lays on treatment table

How We Treat Forward Head Posture in Windsor

There are many treatment philosophies surrounding forward head tilt that focus on structural and functional approaches. The best method of treatment is to prevent if from happening in the first place. If you happen to be past the point of prevention, early detection and implementation of a functional approach can be beneficial.

The Janda Treatment Approach

  • Normalize the periphery: This looks like providing an optimal environment for healing by protecting healing tissues, restoring proper postural alignment through postural and ergonomic education, and correcting the biomechanics of a peripheral joint through manual therapy techniques.
  • Restore Muscle Balance: Once peripheral structures are normalized, normal muscle tone surrounding joints must be restored. When it comes to tight and/or short antagonistic muscles, restoring normal muscle tone and/or length must first be addressed before attempting to strengthen a weakened or inhibited muscle.
  • Increase afferent input to facilitate reflexive stabilization: Once muscle balance has been addressed, Janda stresses increasing proprioceptive input into the CNS with sensorimotor training.” SMT involves progressive stimulation through specific exercises with increasing level of challenge to the sensorimotor system.
  • Increase endurance in coordinated movement patterns: Finally, endurance is increased through repetitive, coordinated movement patterns. Endurance is more important than absolute strength in these cases. Exercises are performed at low intensities and high volumes to simulate activities of daily living.

If you are have lower back pain in Windsor, book an appointment with one of our chiropractors so we can treat your pain and get you back to full health!

About Community Chiropractic Center

Community Chiropractic Center in Windsor, ON is a multidisciplinary wellness clinic offering chiropractic care, spinal decompression, shockwave, acupuncture, and more to our community. We are located on Tecumseh Road East, just north of E.C. Row Expressway. Our clinical team is here at convenient hours to help relieve your pain and achieve your health goals. Request your appointment with us today!

Common Questions About Chiropractic Care

What does a chiropractic adjustment actually do?

An adjustment is a precise, hands-on correction to a joint in your spine that isn’t moving the way it should. When a joint in your spine isn’t moving the way it should, it can affect how that area moves and how the surrounding muscles and nervous system respond.

The adjustment is designed to restore motion and improve the way that area functions. From there, your body does the work — our job is to help create better conditions for it to do that.

That’s a question we answer individually, not generally.

Before anyone is adjusted at our clinic, we review your health history, complete a physical examination, and, where it’s warranted, take X-rays. That process tells us whether chiropractic care is appropriate for you, and it shapes how we adjust. Techniques are chosen to suit the person in front of us.

If what you’re dealing with isn’t suited for chiropractic care, we’ll tell you and point you toward the right provider.

People across a wide range of ages and circumstances. Spinal and joint problems aren’t limited to one stage of life; desk work and device use, sports, physical labour, past injuries, and everyday stress can all place demands on the spine.

The techniques we use vary depending on who we’re working with. The principle behind them doesn’t change.

Most people find adjustments comfortable, although some temporary soreness or tenderness can happen afterward.

If you’ve had a recent injury such as whiplash, the area may already be sensitive or inflamed, so you may notice some discomfort during or after treatment. We adjust the technique and amount of force to what you can comfortably tolerate.

We look at more than just how you feel on a given day. Pain matters, but it can fluctuate, so we also look at things like your movement, function, examination findings, and the activities you’re able to get back to.

We collect baseline information at the start and reassess you at planned points during care. Depending on your case, that may include physical examination findings, surface EMG scans that look at patterns of muscle activity along the spine, and x-rays where clinically appropriate.

Then we review the findings with you side by side. That gives us more than one way to judge whether things are moving in the right direction.

It varies more than people expect. Some patients feel a change quickly; for others it can take weeks or longer.

What affects it: what you’re dealing with, how long it’s been there, its severity, your age and general health, how you respond to care, and how much additional strain your daily life continues to place on the area.

Rather than guess, we set a point to reassess. At that visit we look at the data together and decide where to go from there.

That’s your call, and we mean that.

Some people finish their initial plan and come back only when something flares up. Others choose ongoing care because the demands of their work or sports keep putting the same stresses on their spine, and they’d rather stay ahead of it.

We’ll tell you honestly what we think the data shows and what we’d recommend. Then you can decide what fits your life and your budget, including how often you visit.

If ongoing care makes sense for you, we’ll help you find a frequency that fits your goals, your life, and your budget.

Insurance coverage varies for chiropractic care. Over 80% of Ontario insurance plans will reimburse you for a portion of your fees. However, most have a limit on what they will pay and do not pay for full corrective care programs.

We also offer direct billing when plans allow it. In our office, we don’t base your care plan on your availability of insurance, but offer a payment option to best suit your budget.