Forward Head Posture (Text Neck)
Straight neck syndrome develops when the natural C-shaped curve of the neck straightens because of injury or poor daily habits, causing pain.
About 60,000 more people are affected each year. The muscles and ligaments at the back of the neck become stretched and painful. If it is misdiagnosed or left untreated, it can develop into a disc herniation or stenosis, so prompt treatment is needed.
Common causes
01
Leaning the head toward the monitor while using a computer
02
Direct impact injuring the neck bones or joints
03
Holding poor posture for long periods
04
Bending the head and neck forward for long periods
Signs to watch for
- The weight of the head is not spread evenly, so pain spreads to the shoulders and arms
- Hand numbness, headaches, chronic fatigue, dizziness and eye strain
- Muscle tension can cause myofascial pain syndrome around the neck
How we diagnose
X-ray
The basic first test. Further tests may be added for a definite diagnosis.
MRI
Shows soft tissue that X-ray cannot, such as muscles, ligaments, discs, cartilage, nerves and blood vessels.
How we treat it
Straight neck is a lifestyle condition caused by poor habits, so correction is key.
Manual & exercise therapy
A specialist physical therapist uses hands-on techniques based on anatomy, such as relaxation methods and joint mobilization, to reduce pain and improve function.
Spinal correction program
Correcting spinal imbalance and strengthening the surrounding muscles and ligaments realigns the whole body and helps restore normal balance.
Non-surgical injection therapy
Prolotherapy injects directly into weakened ligaments or tendons to reinforce the fibrous tissue, or a hyaluronic acid injection, a main component of joint fluid, is placed into weakened cartilage.
When surgery is consideredEarly signs include a stiff neck, shoulder pain and headaches. If treatment is delayed, it can go beyond neck and shoulder pain to arm and hand numbness, and in severe cases worsen into a cervical disc herniation, so early treatment is needed.