FORWARD HEAD POSTURE: A STORY OF COMPENSATION

FORWARD HEAD POSTURE IS OFTEN A STRATEGY USED BY THE BODY WHEN THE LOSS OF BALANCED FORCES ARE LOST IN THE ORAL CAVITY. IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN BALANCE, PROPER OCCLUSION WHERE THE TEETH MATCH UP AND THE TONGUE SITS ON THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH IS NECESSARY TO CREATE AN INTERNAL NEGATIVE PRESSURE BUBBLE WHICH PROVIDES SUPPORT INSIDE THE AIRWAY LIKE A BRAND NEW PUMPKIN. THIS IS POSTURE IS OFTEN SEEN IN THOSE WITH OVERBITES. THE MINUTE WE DROP THE TONGUE FROM THE PALATE, WE GET THE SAME EFFECT AS IF WE'VE CUT THE TOP OFF THE PUMPKIN TO CARVE IT AND THREE WEEKS LATER EVERYTHING IS CAVING IN AND LOOKS LIKE IT'S MELTING. WHEN WE LOSE THIS INTERNAL PRESSURE BUBBLE WE'VE LOSE THE SCAFFOLDING EFFECT ON OUR HEAD AND NECK IN ORDER TO BALANCE FORCES THROUGH THE MIDLINE OF THE BODY.

WHEN THE TONGUE RIDES LOW, THE HEAD WILL FALL BACK AND IN ORDER TO CATCH THE HEAD THE HYOID MUSCLES WILL SHIFT EVERYTHING FORWARD TO REBALANCE THE SYSTEM. WHEN THIS HAPPENS WE TEND TO SEE THE FOLLOWING:

✅THE MUSCLES OF THE HYOID DRIVE THE CHIN FORWARD INCREASING THE LENGTH BETWEEN THE STERNUM AND CHIN. THIS LENGTHENS THE MUSCLES ATTACHED TO THE HYOID PUTTING THEM IN A STRETCHED/LENGTHENED POSITION

✅THE STRETCHED HYOID MUSCLES THEN HAVE A TENDENCY TO PULL THE MANDIBLE BACK AND DOWN TO DECREASE THE STRETCH EFFECT BEING PLACED ON IT

✅WE ARE THEN LEFT W THE MUSCLES OF MASTICATION TRYING PULL THE THE MANDIBLE UP IN ORDER TO KEEP THE MOUTH CLOSED

❇️THIS IS WHERE WE SEE "TUG O WAR" EFFECT BETWEEN THE HYOID MUSCLES TRYING TO PULL EVERYTHING BACK AND DOWN WHILE THE MUSCLES OF MASTICATION TRY TO PULL THINGS UP AND FORWARD MAKING IT HARDER FOR US TO KEEP THE TONGUE UP ON THE ROOF OF THE MOUTH. OVER TIME THESE PATTERNS SET IN, AND MANY ARE LEFT WITH THEIR MANDIBLES TRAPPED BACK DURING DEVELOPMENT LIVING THEIR ADULT LIVES STUCK IN THIS "FOREVER" POSTURE. WHEN THE TONGUE NO LONGER FITS WELL ON THE PALATE IT GETS HARDER AND HARDER WHICH ALSO ADDS TO THE COMPLEXITY OF THIS ISSUE.

IN MY OPINION ONE OF THE BEST METHODS OF TREATING THIS IS FINDING A POSTURAL RESTORATION INSTITUTE "PRC" WHO CAN HELP RESTORE PROPER FUNCTION TO THE SURROUNDING MUSCLES AND POSSIBLY USE SOME SPLINTING TECHNIQUES TO HELP WITH OCCLUSION AND REBALANCING THE NERVOUS SYSTEM TO CALM THINGS DOWN