PostureJac Blog

Similar to the Rocket and Piston, the name TurtleNeck paints a picture of spinal lengthening. In this case, of a turtle’s head-neckemerging from its shell. The weight of the head, 10 -14 pounds, has a profound effect on the central axis of the body when it is in a forward position. For every inch of forward head/rounded shoulders posture there is an additional 10 pounds of pressure on the neck.

It is common to see people with 2 – 4 inches of forward head posture/kyphosis. Instinctively the body moves to reduce that pressure, but not always in healthy ways. The neck recoils. Thus the name “turtleneck” and it is often associated with dowagers hump. Instead of being 3 inches forward, it is only 1.5, reducing 15 pounds of pressure. This is still not good, so the neck needs to be pulled back out as part of the posture correction and spinal lengthening process in the cervical region.