1. Inadequate Lighting The neck has a tendency to crane forward while we are working at the computer, watching television, and performing various other activities when there is a lack of ambient light. 2. Bifocals For the younger generation who wear contact lenses, bifocals are glasses that are specially made to allow the user to […]
Is It Safe to Crack My Neck?
I was sitting in the car the other week with a friend who asked me if it was safe to crack his own neck. He demonstrated his maneuver: he grabbed his chin with one hand and the back of his head with the other and gave an extreme, rotational “jerk” to his neck. The popping […]
How Do I Strengthen My Neck Muscles?
Those of us that sit at a computer will probably recognize the image on the left. Notice the forward position of the head on the neck. This position has the chronic effect of weakening the deep muscles of the neck, in particular a muscle known as the “longus colli.” Chronic weakness of the longus colli […]
Importance of Seeking Medical Attention After a Head Concussion
For those of you who have seen the movie “Concussion” (yeah, it was a good flick especially with Willenium being the star), one wonders what REALLY happens after concussions in everyday life. I’d like to clear the air – the movie is depicting individuals who have sustained multiple hits over a long duration, so you […]
Beauty is Pain: Effects of Wearing High Heels
If you’ve ever been to physical therapy, then you might have noticed that posture is often a topic of conversation… and usually it’s more about your bad posture. Posture affects things from range of motion, strength potential, and even pain. Let me demonstrate how posture can be affected by something as simple as footwear, and […]
Concussions & Repeated Minor Head Traumas
The effects of concussions have rightfully been the focus of an increasing amount of press over the last several years. Some stories are particularly disturbing: the motor deficits seen with boxer Muhammed Ali, incidences of suicides and depression suffered by professional and college level football players, and the recent plight of NHL star Crosby are […]
Why Do I Have a Forward Head?
Behold, the dreaded forward head. (See pic) A forward head is commonly defined by what we therapist nerds call a “plumb line” that is dropped from the hole in the ear (aka the external auditory meatus) directly downwards. Under ideal circumstances, the plumb line that drops from the ear should pass through the anterior portion […]
Road Trip Tips from a Physical Therapist
The weather is getting nice and people are going to start wanting to drive out a few hours to get to the beach or to the mountains to go camping. It’s road trip time! Any physical therapist would request that an office worker not sit for more than a 1-2 hour duration, and the same […]
Neck Pain With Bicycling?
In terms of repetitive stress injuries involved with bicycling, one type of injury that we are encountering with increased frequency is the “neck strain.” Take a look at the relative positions of both the head and neck in the photo on the right. Note that this person’s neck has to extend quite a bit in […]