If you all grew up in a household similar to mine, then I’m sure you heard your parents say, “Sit up straight!”, and for good reason! Ergonomics, the study of posture and positioning, might sound a little dull… until you realize how much it impacts not just your daily health, but your overall health! Thousands of people who live in Greater Milwaukee deal with headaches every day that are directly tied to posture – especially post COVID, work from home folks.
Think about it: whether you’re sitting at American Family Field (rip Miller Park) cheering on the Brewers, working at your computer at Colectivo, scrolling Tik Tok your phone, or discussing a book at book club, chances are your head is tilted forward more often than not.
Here’s the tough pill to swallow though: research shows that for every inch your chin extends forward, your neck feels up to 10 extra pounds of pressure. That stress adds up fast, and it can irritate the tissues in your neck, leading to tension, stiffness, premature wear-and-tear, and yes… those nagging headaches.
Types of Headachces:
Tension Headaches: These types of headaches feel like you’re wearing a tight headband around your head and are typically felt on both sides of the head. Oftentimes they feel more dull and achy in nature. Tension headaches can be made worse by poor posture but also by stress, anxiety or lack of sleep.
Cervicogenic Headaches: These types of headaches are felt at the base of your skull and may radiate up into your head. Typically these are felt just on one side and tend to feel more like a throbbing or stabbing sensation. These headaches are caused by dysfunction specifically in the upper cervical spine.
Why Does it Matters:
Good posture isn’t just about looking and feeling confident. It’s about reducing stress and pressure on your spine so your body can function (and feel) at its best.
At Firefly Chiropractic I focus on more than just temporary headache relief. Chiropractic adjustments help restore normal motion in the spine, which is often the first step toward improving posture. Once we get your joints moving the way they’re supposed to, we can then strengthen the muscles that support your neck and back. This combo is what helps reduce both the frequency and severity of headaches for so many of our patients here in the Wauwatosa and Milwaukee area.
The facts are simple:
- Every inch of forward head posture = up to 10 pounds of extra stress on your neck.
- This added stress can directly contribute to tension or cervicogenic headaches.
- Research shows chiropractic care may improves posture and, in turn, help reduce headache frequency & intensity.
Next Steps:
Take a look at your workstation. Is it ergonomically set up to support you or is it setting you up for headaches? If you’re not sure, I’d be happy to help. Check out the FREE Posture Checklist below, which touches on workstation ergonomics among other lifestyle tips.
Whether you’re an office worker, a busy parent glued to your phone, or someone training hard in Wisconsin’s short but sweet outdoor season, your posture plays a bigger role than you may think. The good news? You don’t have to tackle it alone. Firefly Chiropractic is here to help.
Dr. Stef has helped hundreds of people who suffer from headaches. Being someone who relies on chiropractic care to keep her own headaches away, she is always willing to go the extra mile to find the right treatment for you!
Ready to get rid of those posture-related headaches? Schedule a discovery call or book your appointment today!
