Headaches and neck tension can come about due to bad posture. Learn why good posture matters and some ways to get rid of your pains. (Take multi collagen protein powder, for instance!)
Still remember when your childhood PE teacher has told you countless times to sit up straight and never slouch? As it turns out, the constant reminder would pay off until your adulthood. Not only can good posture make you look taller and boost your self-confidence, but it also keeps you from having headaches and neck pain.
What Is Good Posture and Its Benefits?
Good posture is always maintaining a neutral spine. When you use good posture, the muscles around your spine are balanced; therefore, supporting your body evenly. It minimizes stress and keeps the tension in your muscles and ligaments just about right.
The benefits of upholding good posture extend beyond looking good in front of the mirror. In the long run, it helps you fend off a wide array of health issues such as back and shoulder pain, joint degeneration, jaw pain, neck tension, and headaches. It also improves your circulation and digestion and enhances your form during workouts that help you stay injury-free. In case you live under a rock, most injuries in the gym stem from incorrect posture and poor form.
Having said that, it is vital to be mindful of your posture while standing, sitting, moving, or even when sleeping. Some of the common signs and symptoms of bad posture include:
- Forward head carriage
- Rounded shoulders
- Hunch back
- Duck bottom
- Potbelly
- Bent knees when standing or walking
- Flat feet
- Muscle fatigue
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Back and neck pain
Bad Posture Leads to Headaches and Neck Pain
Two of the most frequent outcomes of poor posture are headaches and neck pain. They are just some of the prices we have to pay for our modern lifestyles that often involve slouching on the chair, hunching over phones, and working for extended hours in front of the computer.
If you regularly deal with pressure or tightness in your forehead or squeezing pain that affects the neck and back of your head, your bad posture may be to blame for it. Unknown to many, bad posture adds unnecessary pressure on the neck muscles and head. It is a big contributor to the tensed neck and changes the natural arch of the spine, which brings about tension headaches. Tight neck muscles may spark radiating pain that reaches the head.
What is Forward Neck Syndrome?
Another telltale sign of bad posture is forward neck syndrome. It is a combo of slouched-forward shoulders and rounded upper back. This disorder develops due to habitual poor posture when texting, working, and driving for long hours, which leads to neck pain and even weaker posture. For every inch your neck leans forward over the neutral position, you are putting an extra 10-pound weight on your neck.
Correcting your posture is one obvious solution to eliminate this neck problem. Thankfully, there are measures you can do to turn the corner, and multi collagen protein powder can help ease both your neck pains and headaches.
Exercises to Refine Your Bad Posture
Below are some massages and stretches that can correct improper posture over time and relieve neck pains and headaches.
Suboccipital Stretch
Suboccipital muscles are at the back of your neck. They are above where your neck connects to your skull, or the occiput. These muscles allow your neck’s rotation, extension, and lateral flexion. Sad to say, they are often engaged in neck pains and tension headaches. Stretching them can reduce the knotting sensations and strain in your neck. Learn in the video below a version of a suboccipital stretch that can help strengthen this group of muscles.
Sternocleidomastoid Massage
One of the largest cervical muscles is the sternocleidomastoid muscle. You can locate it by turning your head to left or right and touching the band that pokes out right in the sternum and extends up to the rear end of your ear. Since it is in the neck, it can store a lot of tension. If you want to loosen your tight sternocleidomastoid muscle, watch the video below.
Scalene Massage
The scalene is a collection of complex muscles in the shoulder, collar bone, and neck region. They can be a little challenging to work with as they run in the weird area in the neck. Add to its eccentricity is the idea of “referred pain.” Pain in the scalene occurs in various parts of the body but the scalene itself. Instead of it, your shoulder, chest, or arm endure the pain. Watch a massage technique to release the tension in your scalene muscles.
Seated Cat-Cow Pose
This simple yet effective pose can improve flexibility to your whole spine, allowing it to move, bend backward (extension), and bend forward (flexion). It can enhance the flow of fluid that fills your body’s joint from the neck down to the hips. Seated cat-cow pose calms the mind, and more importantly, reduces stress and tension in the body.
Yoga and Other Options
Signing up for a Pilates lesson or yoga class can also make a difference to your posture and overall body health. A bunch of exercises in these classes stretch your shoulders and open your chest, which can benefit your neck. They can help start releasing the tension in all your neck muscles that are pulling your head the wrong way.
Take Multi Collagen Protein Powder for Pains
You don’t need to pop pain pills to get rid of your neck pains and headaches that are brought about by bad posture. Poor posture due to stress is almost a fact of life. If you have pain anywhere in your body due to stress, check out Warrior Strong Wellness’ Pure Hydrolyzed Multi Collagen Protein Powder, a SUPERFOOD protein that can help you keep up with your busy schedule pain-free! It can help support your ligaments, joints, and tendons during stressful situations as well as help your muscles recover faster. On top of that, it boosts your energy levels.
About The Author
Warrior Strong Wellness
Warrior Strong Wellness provides innovative and high quality transformational supplements and raises awareness and funds to fight childhood cancer by giving a portion of our proceeds to childhood cancer research. In our weekly blogs, we share wisdom about wellness and living a Warrior Strong lifestyle.