Healing, Better Sleep and Wellness Blog

Dr. Hall's FHP ("text neck") Test

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Hello Readers -

In our last blog, we discussed the implications of the everday use of technology and texting on posture and spinal alignment. Please review by clicking here.

Now for Part 2! Our discussion of FHP (Forward Head Posture) and "text neck" would not be complete without a way to measure if you have FHP or not. Enter Dr. Raymond Hall, the inventor and Chiropractic Physician of PILLO1 who created this simple test to measure FHP. Take the test and analyze the results to see if you have FHP, then pass it along to your friends, family, or coworkers.

What you will need: a wall, a friend, a measuring tape or grade school ruler

DR. HALL's FHP TEST:

Part 1: Stand with your back up against a wall with your feet 2-3 inches from the wall so your buttock lightly touches the wall but you remain in good balance. Is your mid back touching the wall, or are your shoulder blades touching the wall? Take note of the answer.

Part 2: Still in the same position, find the midpoint of the top or outer part of your shoulder (called the "humeral head"). Have a friend measure the distance from this point on the shoulder to the wall, and take note of the measurement (*1).

Part 3: In the same position with your head and neck in "normal posture", have a friend measure the distance between the wall and the opening of the ear canal ("external auditory meatus"). Take note of the measurement (*2) and subtract it from the measurement you found in Part 2, that is: *2 - *1 = D (the Difference).

HOW TO INTERPRET THE RESULTS:

Part 1: Optimally, your shoulder blades SHOULD be the points you feel against the wall, not your mid-back. If your mid-back is touching (approximately 2-4 inches below your shoulder blades), you most likely have a thoracic posture known as Hyperkyphosis and this is not healthy in itself but also will set you up for Forward Head Posture due to biomechanical compensations that the neck must create to balance the spine.

Parts 2 + 3: The difference between the wall to shoulder and wall to ear distance should be ZERO. If there is a difference, for every 1 inch of forward position of the head, scientists suggest 10 lbs of added stress to the muscles, tendons and ligaments of the neck. This causes real neck pain and increased load on the spine, whether sitting or standing.

DR. HALL'S TIPS:

If you take my FHP test and determine you have Forward Head Posture, talk to your Chiropractor for more information. Also, seriously consider correcting your neck and posture through the use of PILLO1, my revolutionary cervical pillow design. We often don't have a choice about our technical demainds of work and communications such as computers or smart phones but we do have a choice of the pillow we sleep on. Most people unknowingly sleep on bad conventional and illogically designed "therapeutic pillows" that push their heads up while sleeping, worsening FHP.  Consumers need to be educated about FHP and how to treat it, most importantly - starting with  getting proper doctor designed support while they sleep.

Check it out with our newest video!

Thanks! - Dr. Hall