Did you know the average head weighs 5kg?
I know what you’re thinking, “meh, 5kg isn’t much” but, think about how you hold your head when you are sitting at a computer or are looking at your mobile phone.
Your neck, with 7 vertebrae (bones) and 20 muscles, holds your head up. Ideally, your head sits right over the top of your neck, but we all know, in this modern world of technology, that doesn’t happen.
Here’s something for you to think about, for every 15 degrees your head sits forward from it’s central position, an extra 5 – 7kg is added to the weight of your head.
Central position = 5kg
15 degrees = 12kg
30 degrees = 18kg
45 degrees = 22kg
60 degrees = 27kg
Basically, the further forward you head is, the heavier it is. Your neck will scream at you, the muscles will constantly be in a stretched position and because a lot of these muscles attach to the shoulders and upper back, they will get sore and you will likely get tension headaches.
So, how can you help yourself?
I could list out a million things for you to do, but let’s face it, you won’t do it.
The easiest answer is to be conscious of how you hold your head. Keep it simple, every time you become aware that your head is forward, move it back to the central position. My motto is “tuck your chin”. You will be surprised at how effective it can be once you get into the routine.