The realities of today’s world are such that we spend most of our day on smartphones or computers — and this has a direct impact on our posture.

Most often, this lifestyle leads to a posture type known as “forward head posture.”

A study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science describes what happens in the body with forward head posture:
The muscles at the front of the neck become weak, while the upper back and shoulder muscles become very tense.

Compressive load increases on the cervical spine tissues, particularly the facet joints and ligaments.
Symptoms such as neck pain, headaches, and temporomandibular (jaw) pain may worsen.
Breathing muscle function significantly decreases.
Static balance is impaired.
Due to altered scapular kinematics and muscle activity, shoulder pain and dysfunction may develop, resulting in increased stress on the shoulder.

Thus, forward head posture is not only a cosmetic issue, but also a functional one.