what is flat neck syndrome

What is flat neck syndrome and how is it treated?

Flat neck syndrome is when the section of your spine that's in your neck (the cervical spine) loses some or all of its forward curve. This can stretch your paraspinal muscles, which help you lean, bend, and twist your back. It can also affect your suboccipital muscles, which help you turn your neck.

What causes flat neck syndrome and/or reversed neck curve?

Some of the causes of flat neck syndrome and/or reversed neck curve include: Flat neck syndrome can often place excessive stress on the ligament nuchae, the ligament which limits how much neck flexion you can do. It is located at the back of your neck, starting at the back of the skull, and extends to the last bone in the cervical spine.

Can flat neck syndrome cause military back?

Flat neck syndrome can affect the curvature in other parts of the spine, contributing to a problem known as a military back.

What is the lordotic curve of flat neck syndrome?

A decreasing lordotic curve is not the only characteristic of flat neck syndrome. There can also be increased flexion (forward bending) at the joint between the skull and the first bone of the neck. 1  The excessive bending at this location exaggerates extension through the cervical spine and all of the spinal structures below.

How can I fix my flat neck?

The treatment for military neck involves managing your symptoms and correcting the spine. Surgery. Surgery is the main treatment, but it is usually only performed if your neck is getting worse. Your doctor might add a metal plate and rods to give your neck stability or might fuse your bones together.

What causes flat neck syndrome?

Common causes include: Ankylosing spondylitis, a disease where vertebrae fuse together. Degenerative disc disease, a condition in which the discs between your vertebrae wear down. Spinal abnormalities present at birth.

What problems can a straight neck cause?

When the neck becomes straight also known as 'flat neck' or 'military neck' then serious issues can evolve such as spinal compression and degeneration. It would also influence your load-carrying capacity and the increased stress may cause abnormal curves to develop.

How do I restore the natural curve in my neck?

Physical therapy can be an effective treatment option to restore the natural curve in the neck. Treatments options include neutral spinal alignment, range of motion, strengthening exercises, trigger point injections, and muscle manipulation and activation.

Can flat neck be reversed?

Over time, a sedentary lifestyle, constant sitting and the use of electronic devices can alter your normal spinal curvature, causing pain and inhibiting fluid movement. Physical therapy and chiropractic care can help restore your neck curvature to reduce pain and promote healthy posture.

How long does it take to restore neck curve?

This evidence suggests an average increase in cervical lordosis of up to 18° in 10–14 weeks with 30–40 treatments with use of cervical extension traction as part of a multimodal rehabilitation program. This case demonstrated a 27° improvement in cervical lordosis after 30 treatments over an 18-week period.

Can a chiropractor fix a straight neck?

The posture of their head and neck is not normal and can lead to severe complications. However, chiropractic for military neck can reverse this problem and help patients resume a healthy and pain-free life.

Can straight neck cause headaches?

Cervicogenic headache (CGH) occurs when pain is referred from a specific source in the neck up to the head. This pain is commonly a steady ache or dull feeling, but sometimes the pain intensity can worsen. CGH symptoms are usually side-locked, which means they occur on one side of the neck, head, and/or face.

Is it common to have a straight neck?

Straight neck syndrome is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by the absence of natural curvature along the upper cervical spine. You see, in a healthy adult, the spine is evolutionarily adapted to develop several major and minor curves, including a backwards, c-shaped curve along the neck.

Can physical therapy fix straight neck?

A physical therapist can help you do exercises to correct your posture, strengthen your muscles, and restore some of the curve to your cervical spine.

How do you get the curve back in your spine?

2 Here's how:Sit on a firm chair or stool. ... Hold onto the arms of your chair. ... You're now ready for the movement. ... Relax back to the start position, in which you are sitting upright, with hip bones/top of the pelvis directly above the bottom.Next, tilt your pelvis back.More items...•

What is a posture pump?

POSTURE PUMP DISC HYDRATOR Single Air Cell (Model 1100-S) An indispensable at-home tool to alleviate neck pain, the POSTURE PUMP DISC HYDRATOR (Model 1100-S) provides deep, corrective relief from headaches, stiffness, & fatigue.

What happens if your neck doesn't curve?

If your neck stays that way, it's known as flat neck syndrome or military neck. It can lead to overstretched muscles and ligaments along the whole length of your back and neck. It can also cause your spine to become compressed, which in can wear away parts of your spine.

Can a chiropractor fix a straight neck?

The posture of their head and neck is not normal and can lead to severe complications. However, chiropractic for military neck can reverse this problem and help patients resume a healthy and pain-free life.

What causes torticollis in adults?

Acquired torticollis may be caused by irritation to the cervical ligaments from a viral infection, injury, or vigorous movement. Additional causes may include: Sleeping in an awkward position.

What is flat head syndrome?

Flat head syndrome—medically known as positional plagiocephaly—occurs when a baby’s head develops a flat spot in the first months of its life. The baby’s skull is soft, and their neck muscles are still weak during this timeframe, leading to their head resting on surfaces. Flat spots can occur when a baby frequently lies or sleeps in ...

Why is flat head syndrome so common in babies?

The number of babies developing flat head syndrome has increased over the past few decades, likely because the safest position for babies to sleep is flat on their back in their crib. Back sleeping helps to reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 1.

Why do babies have flat spots?

Flat spots form when a baby spends too much time with their head laying in the same position, called positional plagiocephaly. 2 It most often affects the back or side of the head. A flat area can even start to form in the womb if there is pressure on the skull.

Why do babies sleep on their back?

Back sleeping helps to reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 1. With babies spending more time sleeping on their back, they are putting light pressure on the back of their head from the bottom of the crib (or side of their head if it’s turned more to one side).

How to tell if a baby has flat head syndrome?

You can examine your baby’s head to see if there are any signs of flat head syndrome developing. Examine your baby’s head from directing above to see if you notice any flattened spots on their head. If your baby has a full head of hair, it can be easier to look at their head after a bath when their hair is still wet.

Why does my baby have a flat head?

Flat spots can occur when a baby frequently lies or sleeps in the same position, which allows the baby’s head to develop a flat spot and become misshapen. Learn more about the symptoms of flat head syndrome and how parents can help treat the condition.

What is it called when your skull is flat?

It’s unlikely, but sometimes flat spots are a sign of a rare condition called craniosynostosis—a condition where the skull bones fuse too early. 2. Diagnosis is made with a simple physical exam to assess the head and neck muscles.

What is text neck syndrome?

Text Neck Syndrome is an ever increasing problem today. Most of us suffer from this uncomfortable condition to some degree. Todays fast paced life and demands on our time drive us to become more efficient in communication with those important to us. Did you know the average head weighs between 10 and 12 pounds? Our spine neck and muscles are designed to balance this important part of our anatomy at the very top of our body as the master controller of our every move.

What does it mean when your neck hurts when you use a handheld device?

Instant upper back or neck pain when using a handheld device. Nagging or sharp pain in the neck or shoulders at the end of the day. General shoulder pain and tightness. Intermittent or constant headache made worse when looking down or using the computer. Leads to posture problems and related health issues.

Why does straight neck syndrome occur?

Straight neck syndrome occurs partly due to the anatomical weakness of the neck and head. The human head weighs about 10-12 pounds. It rests atop the C1 or atlas vertebra, which weighs merely 2 ounces. As a result, this head and neck junction becomes predisposed to injury or trauma. In other words, the atlas and axis vertebrae are susceptible ...

What Causes Straight Neck Syndrome?

Straight neck syndrome occurs when a prior neck injury combines with these activities or factors:

How does upper cervical chiropractic help with straight neck?

An upper cervical chiropractic procedure helps restore normal nervous system function by accurately correcting misalignments in the upper cervical spine.

What happens if you get injured in your neck?

If an injury happens in the neck or head region, the atlas and axis vertebrae in the neck may misalign at the joint level. As a result, this structural misalignment irritates the brainstem. Then, it would create a wide variety of health problems throughout the body.

Why do you put a towel on your neck?

It is a simple yet effective move because it can encourage a neck curve, also known as a normal cervical lordosis. This position on the ground with a towel beneath your neck can also help remove tension in your neck muscles.

What is upper cervical spine correction?

An upper cervical doctor’s expertise focuses on the upper cervical spinal correction. The patient barely feels this gentle and precise procedure because it requires no forceful twisting, pulling, cracking, or jerking motion of the neck or spine. It ensures, there will be no risks of neck pain.

How to keep your neck from craning?

Keep your computer screen set at eye level to prevent your neck from craning too low or too high. Keep your monitor or screen directly in front of you, not on the left or right side, where you have to keep your neck craning at an awkward angle. Be mindful of keeping a proper posture while sitting or standing.

What is straight neck syndrome?

We have discussed that straight neck syndrome results from an upper neck injury that causes irritation to the postural centers in the brain stem. In our Los Angeles offices we practice a technique called Blair upper cervical chiropractic care we focus on the junction between the head and the neck.

What causes straight neck?

Straight neck syndrome is caused by neck injury at the base of the skull. The body's postural centers are located in the brain-stem which is housed by the atlas and axis vertebrae. Injuries to the neck can cause spinal misalignment that leads to postural imbalance due to brain stem irritation. The average human head weighs 10-13 pounds ...

What happens when the neck loses its curve?

When neck injury occurs, and the cervical spine loses its normal curve this puts tensile stress on the spinal cord, often referred to as tethering of the spinal cord. When the neck loses its normal curve, it is similar to two people pull on the end of a rope. The straightening of the curve pulls on the cord through the base ...

Why does the spinal cord pull through the skull?

The straightening of the curve pulls on the cord through the base of the skull because the brain is anchored inside of the cranial vault. Tethering of the spinal cord causes irritation to the cord and decreases the efficiency of the central nervous system which can lead to a host of chronic health conditions.

Why does my neck feel like it's straight?

Thoracic outlet syndrome is another condition that can result from a straight neck also related to the thoracic outlet becoming smaller due to muscle tightness and structural encroachment from loss of cervical curve. Other obvious conditions resulting from an upper neck injury and straight neck syndrome are neck pain, mid back pain, upper arm pain, and other chronic muscle pain syndromes.

What is the most common condition in the neck?

One of the most common conditions today is straight neck syndrome or loss of neck curve. A normal neck posture is a backward c-shaped curve of the neck which allows for the proper balancing of the head over the shoulders.

Why do my shoulder blades get tight?

In response to the head's weight shifting forward, the mid-back muscles (between the shoulder blades) become tight as the body attempts to keep the head upright against gravity. The musculoskeletal adaptation sets the stage for several common symptoms and syndromes.

Why The Spine Curves

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