It was about the same time the smartphone was introduced, and work became a 12-plus-hour day sitting in front of the computer. All of that slumping forward, looking down, overstretches the back muscles while tightening the chest and shoulder muscles. When done on a daily basis, we’re left with a new universal posture: forward head and forward shoulder.
Another name for a forward head is text neck, a term coined by Dr. Dean Fishman, a chiropractor, which is used as a diagnostic tool for neck and shoulder muscle pain, nerve pain and headaches caused by the usage of handheld devices. It can also result from using computers and tablets and playing video games. Text neck can reverse the direction of your cervical spine, leading to disc herniations, vascular problems (due to not breathing fully), gastrointestinal issues (being in a slumped position places undue pressure on the organs) and incontinence (good spinal alignment is an important element in maintaining or building a strong pelvic floor).
Another unfortunate side effect of text neck posture: Being slumped with forwarding head can make us appear less than self-assured. After all, it takes just three seconds for someone to formulate an impression of you, and our posture is the first thing people see.
All of these factors led me to create and develop a series of classes called Pilates for Rehab. Pilates for Text Necks is one of these classes. It’s a full-body mat and apparatus workout aimed at improving and reversing text neck, to help us feel and function better in our everyday lives.
The following mini workout is taken from my class, which typically begins with breath and release work, before progressing to stretching and strengthening exercises to restore posture, breath, muscle tone, focus, confidence and quality of life.
This story is from the November - December 2019 edition of Pilates Style.
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This story is from the November - December 2019 edition of Pilates Style.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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