Forward Head Posture's Effect on Neck Muscles

Published 2 months ago• 2 minute read

Forward head posture increases the workload for many of the muscles attached to the cervical spine, which has the job of holding up the head. Over time, forward head posture can lead to muscle imbalances as the body tries to adapt and find efficient ways to hold the head up for straight-ahead vision. Some muscles become elongated and weakened, whereas other muscles become shorter and tighter.

Common muscles that elongate and weaken due to long-term forward head posture include:

See Neck Muscles and Other Soft Tissues

When trying to correct forward head posture and relieve neck pain, these are muscles that may need to be targeted for strengthening. Also, other muscles may also need to be strengthened to help reduce forward head and rounded shoulder posture, depending on the patient’s specific needs.

See 3 Ways to Improve Forward Head Posture

These are the muscles that commonly shorten and tighten due to long-term forward head posture:

These muscles are commonly the focus of stretches to help reduce neck pain and improve forward head posture. Numerous other muscles may become shortened or lengthened due to forward head posture, and the specific muscle imbalances can vary depending on the case.

Watch: 4 Easy Stretches for Neck and Shoulder Pain Video

When forward head posture causes muscle pain, it typically feels like one or more of the following:

Forward head posture can lead to more than just muscle pain, including pain that stems from the joints, discs, nerve roots, and other nearby structures.

Gavin Morrison is a physical therapist and founder of Pro Motion Physical Therapy in Boise, ID. He has more than 15 years of experience providing outpatient orthopedic spine care, sports rehabilitation, and injury prevention training.