Forward Head Posture vs Military Neck

This video goes into detail about the two head and neck postures outside of the normal range.
With the anterior head carriage neck posture, the head goes too far forward creating stress on the back of the neck. The tight muscles are usually the suboccipital, upper traps, pectoralis, and SCM. The weak muscles are often in between the shoulder blades and deep neck flexors.
With the military neck posture, the head is extremely upright. This can make for less shock absorption and more susceptible to neck pain. In this posture, the muscles in between the shoulder blades are too tight.

[@HappytreeLuis]

Military neck!! Finally I have a name for the issues in my back, shoulder, and neck area that have been plagueing me for years. Funnily enough my idea of what good posture is supposed to be came from my father, who spent more than 30 years in the military, so it's quite the apt name in my case, haha. Thank you! Now I have a better idea on how to go forward with fixing this issue.

[@shelleynewton8699]

You know, all the specialists I have seen have told be to do excercises and stretches that are for forward posture. I have loss of lordosis and this has been seen on lateral xrays I have had. The chin tuck that everyone tells me to do has always felt wrong for me, feels like I'm accentuating the problem! Years I've had this problem and after years of physio it has only gotten worse. I finally feel like you've hit the nail on the head!! I will be searching your other vids, thank you!!

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

That's what these are for. Happy you got some value out of this.

[@zb6581]

This video was very insightful. Surprised this channel doesn't have more traffic.

[@TheNar962]

Thanks doc!

[@susannahb2723]

As soon as you said "elegant" I realized what caused me to develop military neck. I've had neck pain since I was 12yo. In 6th grade there was a new girl in my class who looked like a full grown supermodel and I was in awe. I decided I wanted to be like her and started copying her posture, and apparently I've been doing military neck for 20 years 🫡

[@josie8740]

Great video. Very simple. I have anterior. Thank you.

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MO-fs7zv]

Thank You!

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

You're welcome!

[@xxpowwowbluexx]

What about a reverse curve in the neck?

[@andreaacedo9666]

Did you upload the video for military neck exercises? Thanks

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/np_NaoCrZtusrJI just did it now

[@EternalResonance]

Sleep in diferent positions. thin pillows under your back and neck area as you sleep on your back to get your back use to that curve. do slow changes. not big immediate changes asnit will make your back hurt and possible injury

[@hellogoodbye4894]

How about a bit of both, forward head but chin tucked like military neck?

[@ohhthehorror3278]

I have a military neck and bad hunched posture

[@winterfoxx6363]

Dr. O’Guin, did you ever make the video on military neck exercises?

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

I will this week. Please subscribe and stay tuned. Thank you for reminding me.

[@winterfoxx6363]

@@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis I’m looking forward to it! Subscribed. I’m relieved someone on KZbin has a video on the distinction. My chiropractor told me I had military neck which is due to my car accident, unresolved trauma, and a lack of care and programmer lifestyle. It’s a very uncovered topic. Everyone discusses fwd head posture only. Great video!

[@winterfoxx6363]

@@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis Dr. O’Guin, did you wind up deciding to do the military neck video? Like all your content! ♥️

[@valleybay9183]

I would have liked to see the exercises you would recommend to correct these conditions.

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

If you search my channel, you will find the exercises you're looking for.

[@masterpef7143]

his neck bones have tilted forward....how do you fix this????

[@scooterthekidd]

hi doc, i have military neck and a c1 subluxation, as well as c2 malrotation. although i don’t get a lot of neck pain, i have other symptoms like tmj, dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue etc … but one of my weirdest symptoms is this weird “restless” feeling that runs throughout my body. i feel like it’s triggered when i’m in certain static positions / don’t have neck support and is relieved by laying down. it feels like a nerve issue but i’m not sure. i was wondering if you’ve had patients with similar complaints and have any suggestions for this? i would appreciate any insight. thank you 🥹

[@brendanschroeder1862]

Your issues with your spine are fixed by addressing the muscles. Acupuncture is going to be the most precise way to release the tighter muscles, as well as strengthening everything

[@serhatkaya403]

Hi.I have FHP and also i have military neck..Is Fhp causes military neck ? Is doing chin tuck dangerous for military neck?

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

They are usually the opposite thing. Now, you might have military neck, but stick your head out too much. In that case, bringing your head back is a good practice. In regard to your question about chin tuck exercises being dangerous if you have military neck. No, it's not dangerous in terms of causing serious injury or anything. However, you might be exacerbating symptoms of you have any.

[@boost-9689]

Doc, I have both postures. In fact, my neck is straight, hyperextended and sometimes flexes at the upper cervical. It's forcing forward to compensate for balance. It's trying to lift the upper body up. Think I'm stuck in hyperextension in the upper back. There were hyperextension incidents. Have a simultaneous feeling of being too far back and forward and being lifted off my feet. Without the forward head posture, I would fall backwards. Have a flat Tspine and TMJ issues. My skull, jaw and neck get 'stuck' if I do chin tucks or retractions. Any suggestions on how to correct this with exercises and where to adjust? Think I'm being adjusted in the wrong areas that are tight but hypermobile, leading to instability.

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

Hi Boost. We have online consultations if you're interested. I couldn't possibly give recommendations without a visual and watching your movements. email us at [e-mail] to set that up.

[@JeffAicken]

Just found this video and I can assure you that you're not alone. I have noticable forward head posture with the usual shoulders pulled forward, along with lower crossed syndrome / lower back issues. Had a full spine MRI three years ago and my cervical vertebrae are virtually straight, with only the slightest natural curve beginning at C6-C7 and below. Performing hundreds of chin tuck variants have made no noticable difference, in fact it feels borderline unpleasant. Now wondering if I should should be doing some of the exercises I've seen for addressing military neck! Is it possible we are a sub-group of these two types of atypical postures?

[@boost-9689]

@@JeffAicken Hey Jeff, sorry to hear you're having a rough time too. Think it may be helpful to think in terms of how the body is compensating. Seems I've been in an over-extended posture since childhood. Am under-developed in some of the normal musculature one should have have. When I had injuries, it started to unravel. The last straw was a whiplash injury. My body can no longer hold itself upright in the original posture. The straight spine is a compensation. Not sure if the hypermobility is connected or a separate issue. I believe if we can figure out and work on our strength deficits that lead to the maladaptive posture, it may help to alleviate some of the issues. Strengthening seems key. But it's tricky to figure out where the weaknesses are and to work at the correct pace that doesn't aggravate things. Bit of trial and error.

[@lakebum]

Do we need to pull the shoulders slightly back with some effort when standing or walking?

[@DrJeffreyOGuinSaintLouis]

if you have the forward shoulders or head posture, som effort might be necessary to pull them back. It is very individualized.

[@fang.clarkec7584]

Do it in one video…is much better