How We Address Forward Head Posture
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How We Address Forward Head Posture -
In an era dominated
by smartphones and desk jobs,
having a ‘Forward Head Posture’ has become
a modern epidemic.
It has become easy to spot:
chin jutting forward,
shoulders rounding,
and that nagging tension at the base of the skull.
And usually accompanied
by a mobile phone.
Most people think they can fix this by stretching their neck or buying a "posture corrector" harness. Yet, the problem persists. Why? Because your neck isn't the problem - it’s just where the symptoms are showing up.
At Functional Patterns Sydney, we look at the body differently. We don't just treat the neck; we address the biomechanical system that allowed the neck forward in the first place.
Why Your Head is Moving Forward
Think of your body as a highly-tensioned structure. In it, every part is connected. If your feet or pelvis tilt, collapse or become misaligned, the rest of this tensegrity structure compensates to keep you upright.
Forward Head Posture is usually a compensation for a lack of thoracic (upper back) extension, a pelvis that has lost its neutral orientation or a poor postural habit (looking at your phone). If your core lacks tension and stability while looking down at your screen and you hunch over, collapsing into your sternum, your head will move forward to counter-balance the shift in your centre of mass.
The Functional Patterns Solution
Static stretching often makes the problem worse by "loosening" muscles that are actually working overtime to hold your head up. Instead of stretching, we focus on integration.
Myofascial Release (MFR)
Before we can move well, we have to address the "glue" that's holding you in a slump. While part of the cause may be staring at a screen too much, we want to make sure our posture is holding us correctly while we perform any movement, be it standing, walking, running or throwing. We use targeted myofascial release to open and hydrate the tissue and release chronic tension in the anterior chain (the front of your body) and the sub-occipitals.
Correcting the "Big 4"
The head should stay stacked naturally during our most fundamental movements: Standing, Walking, Running, and Throwing. By training these "Big 4" movements, we teach your body to maintain a neutral spine dynamically, rather than forcing it into a static position.
Building Tension
We help you cultivate ‘functional tension’, the kind that supports your joints and keeps your head high without you having to think about it.
Visit Us in Alexandria
If you're ready to fix forward head posture and get back to moving the way nature intended, drop us an enquiry form and we’d be glad to help.
Functional Patterns Sydney is located in the heart of Alexandria, equipped with the space and expertise to transform your biomechanics.
Don't settle for temporary relief. Fix the root cause.