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In this episode, Dr. Westley Kuns of Kuns Chiropractic Clinic in Gresham, Oregon tackles one of the most overlooked health issues of our time: posture. With so many of us spending hours each day hunched over phones, laptops, and screens, the toll on our bodies is greater than most people realize.
Dr. Kuns breaks down why posture is far more than an old-fashioned concern, explaining how it connects to pain, energy levels, and long-term spinal health. Whether you sit at a desk all day or find yourself scrolling on your phone late at night, this episode has practical insights you can start using right away.
Tune in to learn why now is the most important time in history to pay attention to how you hold yourself, and what small changes can make a big difference.
Hey there, and welcome back. I’m Doctor Westley Kuns, coming to you from Kuns Chiropractic Clinic here in Gresham, Oregon. Today I want to talk about something that affects pretty much every single one of us… and that’s posture. Specifically, why posture matters more than ever right now, in a world where we are all staring at screens for hours and hours every day.
And I know what you might be thinking. Posture? Really? That sounds like something my grandma used to nag me about. But stick with me here, because this is genuinely important stuff. And it might explain some things you’ve been feeling in your neck, your shoulders, or your upper back.
So let’s start with the basics. Your spine has a natural curve to it. It’s designed that way on purpose. Those curves help distribute the weight of your head and your body evenly, so your muscles don’t have to work overtime just to keep you upright. Now here’s the problem. When you tilt your head forward to look at a phone or hunch toward a computer screen, you throw that whole system off balance.
Here’s something that really puts it in perspective. Your head weighs somewhere around ten to twelve pounds when it’s sitting right on top of your spine, where it belongs. But as you tilt it forward, the effective load on your neck and upper spine increases dramatically. By the time your head is tilted forward just a few inches, your neck is managing what feels like significantly more weight. That’s a lot of stress being placed on muscles, discs, and joints that were never designed to handle that kind of load for hours at a time.
And most of us are doing this all day long. At work, on the couch, in the car, before bed. The screens just keep coming.
Now, here’s what happens over time. Your muscles start to adapt to whatever position you hold most often. The muscles in the front of your neck and chest can get tight and shortened. The muscles in your upper back get overstretched and weak. Your shoulders start to round forward. And your body starts to think that hunched position is just… normal. That’s what we call postural adaptation, and it can lead to chronic tension, headaches, fatigue, and that nagging ache between your shoulder blades that just won’t quit.
The good news? There are simple things you can start doing today. First, think about your screen height. Whether it’s your phone or your monitor, try to bring the screen up toward eye level instead of dropping your head down toward the screen. That one change alone can make a real difference.
Second, give yourself a break. Every thirty minutes or so, stand up, roll your shoulders back, take a few deep breaths, and reset. Your body needs movement throughout the day. It doesn’t do well when we stay stuck in one position for too long.
And third, try a simple chin tuck. Gently pull your chin straight back, like you’re trying to make a little double chin. Hold it for a few seconds and release. It sounds funny, but it helps retrain those deep neck muscles to support your head properly.
Now, if you’ve been dealing with ongoing neck pain, headaches, tightness between your shoulders, or you just feel like something isn’t quite right, that’s a good sign it’s time to come in and get evaluated. At Kuns Chiropractic, we look at the whole picture. How you’re moving, how your spine is aligned, where the tension is building up. And we put together a plan that actually makes sense for your life.
You don’t have to just push through the discomfort. And you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
Thanks so much for tuning in today. I really appreciate you spending a few minutes with me. If you’re in the Gresham area and you’d like to come in for a visit, we would love to see you at Kuns Chiropractic Clinic. Give us a call, check us out online, or just stop by. We’re here to help you feel better and move better, one adjustment at a time. Take care of yourselves, and I’ll talk to you next time.
