Forward Head Posture: Exercises And Stretches To Try - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeHow to Fix a Forward Head Posture

Medically reviewed by Courtney Sullivan, Certified Yoga Instructor — Written by Marjorie Hecht — Updated on July 24, 2020

Research
Causes
Side effects
Exercises
Yoga pose
Posture alignment
Other treatments
Surgery
When to see a doctor
Takeaway

Forward head posture (FHP) is a common condition where your head is positioned with your ears in front of your body’s vertical midline. In normal or neutral head posture, your ears line up with your shoulders and midline.

FHP can cause neck pain, stiffness, an unbalanced gait, and other side effects. It’s also often associated with rounded shoulders, called kyphosis.

The good news is that you can usually fix it: Stretching and strengthening exercises along with paying attention to good posture relieves side effects and restores better posture.

FHP is also called “text neck” or “nerd neck,” because it results from prolonged bending toward a computer screen, or hunching over a laptop or cell phone. It’s also associated with the loss of muscle strength in the aging process.

Research facts

FHP is associated with reduced respiratory function, according to a small 2019 study of healthy university students.
FHP and kyphosis are associated with increased mortality rates, especially in older men and women, reported a 2019 review article.
The effective weight of your head on your spine increases from 10 to 12 pounds in the neutral position to 49 pounds when your head is hunched forward at a 45-degree angle, a 2014 study found.
FHP reduces your balancing ability, according to a 2012 study of people who worked on computers for more than six hours a day.

Causes

FHP often results from hunching over an electronic device or slumping at your desk to look at a computer screen for prolonged periods.

Studies show that specific stretching and strengthening exercises and manual therapy by a chiropractor or physical therapist can help restore normal alignment of your head and neck and relieve side effects.

Other possible causes of FHP include:

driving hunched over the wheel for long periods
occupations that require you to lean forward, such as sewing
carrying a heavy backpack
long-term bad posture, such as slouching
sleeping with your head up too high or reading in bed
injury, such as whiplash
accommodation to pain
muscle weakness in the upper back
diseases such as arthritis and bone degeneration
congenital malformation

Side effects

FHP can change the muscles of your upper back, neck, and shoulder that support your head.

When your posture is misaligned it can overload these muscles and connective tissue. This changes muscle length and strength. The muscles at the front of your neck get shorter and weaker, and those at the back of your neck lengthen and tighten.

FHP also affects the nerves, tendons, and ligaments involved with those muscles.

Side effects may include:

chronic neck pain
tight neck muscles
decreased range of neck motion
headaches
back pain
jaw pain in the temporomandibular joint
numbness and tingling in arms and hands
decreased balance control
muscle spasms
herniated or other disc problem

Exercises to try

Many of the stretches and exercises designed to counteract FHP are simple, and can be worked into your daily routine. Deep breathing can also help your posture.

Here are a few to start with:

Chin tucks

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Chin tucks can be done almost anywhere, whether sitting or standing. It helps strengthen your neck muscles.

Keep your head straight and your chin parallel to the floor. Pull your chin back toward your chest, as though you’re making a double chin.
While your chin is tucked in, move the back of your head away from the base of your neck. Hold the position for three deep breaths.
Return to a normal chin position, and repeat.

Chin tuck lying down

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This is a good stretch to do just before getting out of bed in the morning.

Lie flat on your back, with a small towel roll under your neck.
Tuck your chin in.
Return to a normal chin position, and repeat.

Chin tuck standing against a wall

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This exercise also helps you with proper posture.

Stand with your shoulders, head, and back flat against a wall.
Tuck your chin in.
Hold for a few seconds.
Return to a normal chin position, and repeat.
From the same starting position, put both arms up against the wall, palms out.
Move your arms up and down against the wall.

Forward neck stretch

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This is a variation on a basic chin tuck.

Standing or sitting, tuck in your chin, using two fingers of one hand.
Put your other hand on the top of your head, and push gently as you pull your head toward your chest until you feel a stretch.
Hold the stretch for 20 seconds.
Return to a normal chin position, and repeat three times.

Yoga pose for neck pain

Many yoga poses can help relieve tension and pain in your neck and shoulders. Here is one simple example:

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Stand with your feet aligned with your hips.
Bend forward slowly, slightly bending your knees.
Bring your hands to the floor or to your lower legs.
Tuck in your chin and let your head and neck relax. If you can do it comfortably, make circles with your head, or move your head from side to side, to help relieve tension.
Hold the position for at least one minute.
Roll your spine up to standing, bringing your arms and head up last.

Posture alignment

Improving your posture relieves pain and promotes strength and flexibility. There are many exercises that can help.

A good first step is to be aware of what proper posture is standing, sitting, or walking.

It’s especially important to practice good posture if you sit at a desk for many hours at a computer. To have correct posture at work:

use a chair that supports your back
keep your feet flat on the floor
position your screen at eye level
position your keyboard so your hands and wrists aren’t strained
use a mouse that doesn’t strain your wrist

Good posture takes practice as well as awareness. If your regular posture is slumping, work at correcting it through exercise and good practices. For example, position your phone or other screen at eye level, so you are not bending over it.

How to check your posture

You can get a feel for what good posture feels like with this simple test:

Stand against a wall with your head, shoulders, hips, and feet touching the wall.
Now move your arms up and down against the wall 10 times.
When you finish the exercise and walk away, your body should be properly aligned.

Other treatments

In most cases, an exercise routine helps relieve pain associated with FHP. Exercise also improves your posture.

You may want to consult with a physical or occupational therapist or chiropractor to help plan a specific exercise routine for your needs. They can also help you develop better ways to sit or stand and improve your work station.

A 2017 study of different types of exercise and stretches found no significant differences in results. All the exercise routines helped improve FHP.

Another 2017 study found that the use of kinesio tape was also helpful in improving FHP, but noted that exercise was more effective.

Surgery

Surgery is not used to treat FHP, unless there is an underlying structural abnormality, such as a congenital deformity.

In some cases where FHP is accompanied by kyphosis, surgery may be used.

When to see a doctor

FHP can have painful side effects, including impairing your ability to carry out daily functions. If you’re in pain, it’s a good idea to see a doctor for an examination and diagnosis. In some cases, there may be an underlying condition, such as bone malformity, contributing to your FHP.

The doctor may prescribe medication to relax your muscles or relieve pain. They can also refer you for physical or occupational therapy.

A chiropractor can provide relief with manual therapy and suggested exercises to correct your forward posture.

The bottom line

Forward head posture is very common today as people spend long periods of time bending over a smart phone or other device.

FHP disrupts your normal body alignment, and can be painful or have other side effects.

Exercise and stretching are effective in relieving pain and restoring proper posture.

Fixing FHP requires paying attention to your posture and maintaining stretching and specific exercises throughout the day.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Ameri E et al. Case report: A new surgical approach to cervical hyperlordosis. (2014). DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4199292/
American Chiropractic Association. Maintaining good posture. (n.d.).https://acatoday.org/content/posture-power-how-to-correct-your-body-alignment
Australian Spinal Research Foundation. (2017). Forward head posture--It's effects on the young and the aging.https://spinalresearch.com.au/forward-head-posture-effects-young-aging/
Bayattork M et al. Exercise interventions to improve postural malalignments in head, neck, and trunk among adolescents, adults, and older people: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials. (2020). DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7056483/
Blum CL. The many faces of forward head posture: The importance of differential diagnosis. (2019).https://doi.org/10.1080/08869634.2019.1594003
Fathollahnejad K et al. The effect of manual therapy and stabilizing exercises on forward head and rounded shoulder postures: A six-week intervention with a one-month follow-up study. (2019).https://bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12891-019-2438-y
Hansraj, KK. Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head. (2014). https://europepmc.org/article/med/25393825
Kang JH et al. The effect of the forward head posture on postural balance in long time computer-based worker. (2012). DOI:https://doi.org/10.5535/arm.2012.36.1.98
Kim D-H et al. Neck pain in adults with forward head posture: Effects of craniovertebral angle and cervical range of motion. (2018).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6296804/
Kim S-Y et al. The effects of McKenzie exercises on forward head posture and respiratory function. (2019). DOI:https://doi.org/10.18857/jkpt.2019.31.6.351
Kocur P et al. Relationship between age, BMI, head posture and superficial neck muscle stiffness and elasticity in adult women. (2019). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44837-5
Koseki T et al. Effect of forward head posture on thoracic shape and respiratory function. (2019). DOI:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6348172/
Lopez R. Forward head posture. (n.d.). https://thespineandhealthcenter.com/forward-head-posture/
Sheikhhosein R et al. Effectiveness of therapeutic exercise on forward head posture: A systematic review and meta-analysis [Abstract]. (2018). DOI:https://www.jmptonline.org/article/S0161-4754(17)30192-6/pdf
Shih H-S et al. Effects of kinesio taping and exercise on forward head posture [Abstract]. (2017). https://content.iospress.com/articles/journal-of-back-and-musculoskeletal-rehabilitation/bmr150346#a

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Medically reviewed by Courtney Sullivan, Certified Yoga Instructor — Written by Marjorie Hecht — Updated on July 24, 2020

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Research facts

Causes

Side effects

Exercises to try

Chin tucks

Chin tuck lying down

Chin tuck standing against a wall

Forward neck stretch

Yoga pose for neck pain

Posture alignment

How to check your posture

Other treatments

Surgery

When to see a doctor

The bottom line

How we reviewed this article:

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