Forward Head posture and cognition
What do we mean by forward head posture?
Forward Head Posture refers to a person’s head being out of alignment with their spine due to their head being too far forward. This gives an individual an appearance of being slumped forward or having a hump on their upper back. It is a common postural issue that occurs in someone who works in a forward position like dentists, surgeons, or those who spend a lot of time on electronic devices. It can also be a sign of weak core muscles which could lead to a host of issues.
How does forward head posture effect cognition?
Over the years there have been a lot of studies about aging and declining posture. The results have shown cognitive decline associated with gait slowing and stooped posture. Recent research has indicated that postural alignment could be linked to poor cognitive function due to the disruption of blood flow and oxygen supplied to the brain.
The spine plays a big role in sensory input received from movement. If the spine is out of alignment, especially the neck where there are a lot of sensory receptors critical for sending movement information to the brain, posture and gait could be affected. This misalignment could alter activation to the brain from mechanoreceptors (movement receptors) throughout the body.
Another concern is that areas of the brain that are responsible for movement are also involved in higher-level learning. Dysfunction in these areas could result in issues with short-term memory, verbal skills, and logic and reasoning ability. Studies have also shown that misalignment can lead to issues with ADHD and ear infections too.
What can be done to reduce forward head posture?
Prolonged forward head posture can lead to lengthening of certain muscles and shortening or weakening of others. It is important to limit activities in this position and to make an effort to do strengthening and mobilization exercises that will help the core muscles keep the head in alignment with the spine and reverse the effect of this posture.
