Anterior Head Syndrome (AHS) is one of my favorite PRIMARY CONDITIONS to correct because the number of SECONDARY CONDITIONS AHS is capable of generating is greater than most people realize…after all its called Anterior “HEAD” Syndrome… what else can it effect besides the head, neck and upper back?
Well, its a bit more complicated than it seems. First, you need to know a human head can weigh anywhere from 12 to 16 lbs! That’s what a bowling ball weighs.
Second,the body likes to redistribute weight to keep it in balance….so if you shift your head forward (anterior), the body will shift the ribcage backward to keep things balanced. But if the ribcage ends up too far back, the mass of the head is not enough to keep things in balance and therefore the hips will begin to shift forward. Thus the entire spinal structure is effected by a forward shift of the head!
This balancing act can’t go on forever without paying a price.
Just the weight of the head, alone, is enough to accelerated wear and tear on the muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, bones and the nerves in the neck and upper back, when it is shifted significantly out of place.
To get a feel for it, just take a bowling ball, or similar weight and hold it out in front of you with your arms extended….for 16 hours, 365 days, year in year out…and keep going…Good Luck!
Finally, realize that your lower back and pelvis carry a greater burden than just the weight of the head. Any significant shifting of the spine in these areas, as a result of a forward shifted head, is a recipe for disaster…a list of secondary conditions that seem to have nothing to with the head.
Paying attention to your body’s warning signals (secondary conditions) is the next best thing to a Complete Structural Examination…the best way to diagnose a structural abnormality like AHS.
