Chiropractors treat over 27 million Americans every year. Meanwhile, chiropractic adjustments are performed a million times every business day in America. However, not many patients realize they have a serious condition. For example, your symptoms could indicate you have upper cross syndrome.
What are the common upper cross syndrome causes, and is upper cross syndrome curable?
Keep reading to find out. In this guide, we’ll review everything you need to know about this condition. By learning more, you can spot the symptoms before scheduling a chiropractic appointment.
Read on to learn more!
What is Upper Cross Syndrome?
Upper cross syndrome develops due to poor posture. It can cause your neck, chest, and shoulders to become deformed over time.
Your back muscles of the shoulders and neck are usually affected the most. These muscles can become overactive and strained. Meanwhile, the muscles at the front of your chest will shorten and tighten.
Overactive muscles can cause surrounding muscles to become weak and underused. Over time, the overactive and underactive muscles overlap.
This causes an X shape to form, hence the name.
Symptoms
What’s on the list of common upper cross syndrome causes? Remember, poor posture can cause your symptoms. Activities that can cause your bad posture include:
- Using your phone, laptop, or computer
- Watching TV
- Playing games
- Biking
- Reading
- Driving
These activities can cause a long list of upper cross syndrome symptoms, including:
- Jaw pain
- Fatigue
- Lower back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Pain in the upper back and shoulders
- Weakness at the front of your neck
- Trouble driving, sitting to read, or watching TV for long periods of time
- Pain around your ribs
- Pain, numbness, and/or tingling in your upper arms
- Restricted movement in your shoulders and neck
- Tightness and pain in the chest
Healthcare and indirect costs due to back pain are over $12 billion annually. As your symptoms, including back pain, get worse, it could lead to a disability.
If these symptoms sound familiar, consider visiting your chiropractor.
Treatment
Is upper cross syndrome curable? Yes. There are a few upper cross syndrome treatment options available, including chiropractic care and physical therapy.
Chiropractic care can realign your joints to improve your range of motion.
Make sure to practice proper posture as well.
Exercises
You can also use upper cross syndrome exercises to ease your pain.
One exercise to do while sitting is to sit with a straight back, bend your knees with your feet flat on the floor. Press your palms down into the ground behind your hips and rotate the shoulders down and back.
You should feel the tight muscles of the side neck, shoulders, and chest lengthen. For more of a stretch in the chest, push your palms into the floor without actually moving them. Stay in this position for 3 to 5 minutes, or as long as it feels comfortable. Repeat the exercise several times throughout the day.
While you might experience discomfort, restricting activity could otherwise cause soreness and stiffness.
You can complete these exercises sitting, standing, or lying flat on your back.
Prevention
You can avoid developing this condition by:
- Placing books, computer screens, phones, TVs, and steering wheels at eye level
- Completing stretches to target your sore muscles
- Taking breaks when sitting for long periods of time
Talk to your chiropractor for other methods you can use to prevent and treat this condition.
Sit Up Straight: Everything You Need to Know About Upper Cross Syndrome
Do these upper cross syndrome symptoms sound familiar? You don’t have to live in pain anymore. Instead, visit your chiropractor to discuss next steps.
Otherwise, improve your posture!
Ready for your next appointment? We can help.
Contact us today to get started.
