Forward Head Posture: 8 Yoga Stretches to Help Alleviate Text Neck Pain

Most of us spend a whole lot of time on our devices. Unless we’ve made a commitment to maintaining healthy posture—including not tilting our heads forward—we can end up with the 21st-century malady, “text neck.” We don’t have to put up with the resulting neck and shoulder pain, however. Yoga can help. Try this sequence of yoga-based stretches to help alleviate pain due to forward head posture and text neck.

Neck Retraction

Our heads tend to shift forward when we work on computers.

1. To reverse the strain this places on the upper neck, gently retract or move your head backward. To perform a cervical retraction exercise, move your entire head backward while keeping your chin parallel to the earth.
2. Hold for five seconds.
3. Repeat 10 times.
4. Perform this exercise with a soft face. No tensing!

Shoulder Rolls

Our shoulders tend to get tense from holding our arms up and breathing into our chests more than our belly. Give them some love and roll them a lot during the day.

1. Roll your shoulders backward several times, and then roll them in a forward motion.
2. Exaggerate the movement so you notice that the upper back moves as well.
3. Repeat several times frequently during the day.

Shoulder Stretch

To counter the effects of a forward head and rounded-shoulder posture, move your shoulders back behind you in a stretch.

1. Grab hands and interlace your fingers behind your back and gently squeeze your palms together.
2. Resist arching your back or fully straightening your elbows.
3. Hold the position for 5 breaths.

Chest Stretch

When we sit at a computer, we tend to round the upper back and allow the shoulders to roll forward. To counter this tendency, stretch the pectoral muscles. This stretch could be added to various yoga poses. Here, I am in Warrior I.

1. Open your arms out to the side, lifting your breast bone and squeezing           your shoulder blades together.

2. You may opt to hold the stretch for 5 breaths or move in and out of          the stretch with each breath.

Upper Trapezius Stretches           

The upper trapezius muscle originates on your shoulder girdle (the upper portion of the scapula) and inserts into the base of your skull. The muscle is often overused and tight, especially if you work on the computer.

1. To stretch, stand in Mountain Pose.

2. Gently side bend your head to the right and look up slightly to the left. At the same time, reach your left hand towards the floor. Pull fingers up to get the added benefit of a wrist stretch.

3. Repeat on the other side.

4. Hold for 5 breaths and repeat a couple times on each side.

(A more gentle neck stretch may be done from Sukhasana.  Simply let your arm rest down off your lap and bring your opposite ear to shoulder. )

Scapular Retraction

Forward head posture usually includes a protracted and rounded shoulder position. This means that the shoulder blades move away from your spine promoting a slumped position.

1. Squeeze your shoulder blades together, which will un-hunch your posture.
2. Hold for 5 breaths, then release.
3. Repeat several times often through the day.

Lie Down         

If you work at home or can close your office door, lie down on the floor for 60 seconds! This position will relax the muscles of your back and open the muscles on the front of your body that tend to get tight from leaning over your desk.

Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)

This exercise is the antithesis of forward head posture!

1. Lie down on your stomach and place your palms on the floor by your shoulders with your fingers pointing forward. (photo right)
2. As you lift your head and shoulders up, isometrically move the heels of your hands toward your feet. This motion will help create mild spinal traction.
3. Hold for several breaths, and then relax.
4. Repeat 5 times.

Would you like to read more tips for preventing text neck pain?  Here’s another article from Christine Carr and YogaUOnline – Neck Pain from Texting? Yoga Can Help!

Study with Dr. Baxter Bell and YogaUOnline – Yoga for Healthy Aging: Curbing Inflammation to Prevent Chronic Disease.

Reprinted with permission from Synergyptyoga.com

photos courtesy of Medbridge Education and Christine Carr.

Christine Carr, MSPT, DPT, E-RYT 500

Christine has been a physical therapist for over 20 years and has taught yoga since 2007. She owns a private practice in Evergreen, CO where she utilizes both physical therapy and yoga therapeutics in treating clients. Christine has taught workshops on how to better utilize yoga for healing the body in both the United States and Canada. For more information on Christine or her clinic please visit www.synergyptyoga.com