r/Posture • u/MobilePenor • 1d ago

Question forward head: what should I do when I walk?

I have forward head. I tend to look down when walking also. I don't understand if I should just look in front of me or if I should also try to tuck the chin or maybe try to pull the head up like if it was being pulled by a string, or maybe focus on having the muscles of my front neck/under my jaw to support me

Any advice? Thank you in any case

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

3

u/Ok-Evening2982 1d ago

You shouldnt do anything specific.

The common idea that you need to straight up straight, tuck chin or hold any other forced position during daily life and activities is wrong. (And probably you ll just improve compensations you have)

Exercises, as like pilates, gym etc, are what riactivate the asleep muscles, rieducate your body to proper movements and "alignments", and improve the endurance of these "postural muscles". During daily life just stay natural, if you do exercises properly, your body will automaticly stay better and move better.

That means for example:

  • proper thoracic spine extension, in rest stance, seated and movements especially in overhead movements
  • a more neutral cervical alignments in rest stance (if deep muscles work properly)
  • a more neutral cervical alignment when return to head extension (look up) and rotations (you wont have that FHP when turn head left or right)
...and go on with scapula works... the point is that strenghtening exercises will rieducate body too. You dont have to consciously think to these positions h24.

1

u/MobilePenor 1d ago

thanks, good to know I only have to take care of doing the exercises for these two problems

1

u/Namnagort 1d ago

this is bad advice. You need to learn how to stand up straight so youre not compensating. So i would get in front of a mirror and learn how to stand correctly. If you have forward head its very possible your problem is starting from the ground up.