Why Your Head Feels Like It Weighs 60 Pounds

In today’s world, everyone from children to seniors has endless technology at their fingertips. With the push of a button, we can Facetime with a friend across the country. We can get a map to a destination with a couple of clicks and play on the go. Ultimately, we can have instant gratification for both knowledge and entertainment. As technology continues to evolve, we seem to be forgetting the toll it is taking on our bodies. We weren’t designed to look down at our phone or computer all day.

Did you know that the head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds? So when you’re standing properly, your head doesn’t put undue pressure on your cervical spine and neck, which houses the spinal cord that sends messages from your brain; the control center of your entire body. The moment we tilt our heads to look at our electronic device, we add a little pressure to the neck. When you tilt your head 15° forward, you’re putting about 27 lbs. of weight on your neck; when you lean forward 30°, you’re putting about 40 lbs. of weight on your neck; 45° forward is approximately 49 lbs. of weight on your neck; and 60° is about 60 lbs. weight on the neck.

The added weight of tilting your head forward puts pressure on the discs in your neck and spine. The muscle of the neck and upper back hold the head up. The further forward your head is, the more your neck and upper back muscles have to work. By continuing to tilt your head, you will eventually experience neck and shoulder pain along with severe headaches. Worse yet, you could end up with: wasting, degeneration, forward curvature of the spine, digestive problems, restricted breathing, and possible cardiovascular defects.

To prevent these problems from occurring, chiropractors suggest the following:

1. Hold the device in front of you and don’t look down.

2. Practice keeping your neck back with your ears on your shoulders. A great way to practice this is by squeezing your shoulder blades together.

If you try these techniques and still don’t feel any relief, it’s time to make an appointment with your chiropractor! They can help you get back a healthy spine and ease the pain you are experiencing. Also, chiropractors may suggest some exercises to improve your posture.