Verdict: TRUE.
Bad posture is one of the most common triggers for tension headaches.
When the head is held forward for a long time or turned in an uncomfortable position, the neck and shoulder muscles continually work to support it.
This muscular overload gradually leads to contractures. The tension can then spread to the scalp muscles and cause a feeling of pressure or tightness around the head.
The phenomenon is particularly common among people who work several hours without a break in front of a screen.
The suggestive signs are:
- Pain at the end of the day;
- Tension in the neck;
- Improved with rest;
- Absence of significant nausea;
- Non-throbbing pain.
The ergonomics of the workstation plays a major role. A screen that is too low, a poorly adjusted chair or constantly raised shoulders increase the stress on the cervical region.
Specialists recommend:
- Place the screen at eye level;
- Take regular breaks;
- Change position frequently;
- Practice some gentle neck and shoulder stretches.
If the pain becomes frequent, occurs as soon as you wake up or is accompanied by neurological symptoms, a medical consultation is necessary.
Bad posture doesn’t cause all headaches. But it is one of the factors most often involved in everyday tension headaches.
Advice from Dr Gérald Kierzek
Headaches can be caused by poor neck position, fragmented sleep, bruxism or sometimes a nocturnal respiratory disorder such as sleep apnea. If the pain is especially when waking up, improving bedding, sleeping position and quality of sleep can help, but repeated nocturnal headaches should lead to a medical cause.