One of the most common structural abnormalities we help people with in our practice is Anterior Head Syndrome (AHS). Someone who has AHS will present with the appearance of an anterior (forward) shift of the head. In other words, when viewed from the side while standing in a relaxed stance, the hole of the ear will be forward of the tip of the shoulder. AHS will usually include increased muscle tension/spasm in the neck and upper back, the appearance of a Dowager's Hump ("Granny Hump"), compressed (degenerated) intervertebral discs, nerve impingement syndrome, and damaged (degenerated) vertebrae. The picture below illustrates the appearance of AHS viewed both from the outside and the inside of the body.
In many cases, AHS may be the underlying cause of a large variety of secondary conditions. The following conditions are often the result of AHS:
- Neck & Back Pain
- Sciatica & Hip Pain
- Numbness & Tingling
- Muscular Spasm & Tension
- Headaches (including Migraine)
- Pinched Nerve (N.I.S.)
- Herniated Disc
- Degenerative Disc Disease
- Degenerative Joint Disease
- Decreased Range of Motion
- Poor Posture
- Dizziness/Vertigo
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
