In keeping with chiropractors, a sure go-to coiffure may very well be doing greater than trying cute.
It’s fast, straightforward and requires little-to-no hairstyling expertise, however if you happen to’ve been coping with stress complications, neck ache or poor posture, your excessive ponytail may very well be in charge.
“Whereas tight hairstyles could look like a minor behavior, their cumulative impact on spinal well being, muscle stability and neurological operate will be vital,” mentioned Sherry McAllister, president of the Basis for Chiropractic Progress.
Forward, chiropractors clarify why this seemingly harmless type may very well be wrecking your neck — and what you are able to do to reduce the injury with out giving it up solely.
Are ponytails unhealthy in your neck?
Whereas ponytails aren’t inherently unhealthy in your neck, excessive, tight ponytails could cause points — particularly when worn steadily.
The common human head weighs about 10 to 12 kilos, and even small adjustments in head place can dramatically enhance the load in your neck muscle groups and backbone. Excessive, tight ponytails pull the scalp and hair upwards and backward, “which creates stress on the fascia (connective tissue) of the scalp,” mentioned Liza Egbogah, a chiropractor and osteopath. “This fascia is steady with the muscle groups of the neck and higher again, and might develop into tight and strained on account of stress on the fascia.”
A excessive, tight ponytail may also have an effect on posture and alignment within the cervical backbone. It is because so as to scale back the ponytail-induced stress on the scalp, it’s possible you’ll be subconsciously altering your head positioning and transferring your head ahead, which suggests “the top slowly begins to shift from being consistent with the shoulders to being in entrance of the shoulders,” Egbogah mentioned. “This ahead head posture places stress on the cervical backbone and, over time, can result in a stiff neck, ache within the higher and mid-back, stress complications, rolled ahead shoulders and a hunched higher again.”
One factor to notice is that if you happen to put on excessive, tight ponytails typically, it might probably create power stress on the scalp and neck muscle groups, which may set you up for power stress complications, McAllister mentioned. “Chiropractors typically see sufferers with seemingly unrelated signs (like uninteresting complications) which can be traced again to cumulative stress resembling hair being pulled again too tight,” she added.
Lastly, carrying a good, excessive ponytail may also influence the nerves in your scalp and neck, notably if the type creates extreme stress or stress over time. “A decent coiffure could cause the muscle groups on the base of the cranium and higher neck to tighten up and compress the nerves working via them, which may trigger tingling down the neck and/or into the higher shoulders,” Egbogah mentioned.
It may possibly additionally have an effect on your face.
Aside from posture, cervical backbone alignment and stress, a excessive, tight ponytail may also have an effect on the jaw. “Because the fascia of the scalp is steady with the jaw, this coiffure may also trigger jaw muscle groups to tighten up, resulting in jaw ache and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) points,” Egbogah mentioned.
It is because hair that’s pulled again too tightly can create stress on the temporal area, the place among the muscle groups concerned in jaw motion are situated. This will result in tightness in the important thing muscle groups on this space which can be accountable for chewing and jaw operate, doubtlessly inflicting jaw soreness, clenching or complications that really feel like they originate from the temples.
How one can inform in case your ponytail is in charge in your ache:
When you’re experiencing head, neck or jaw ache and suspect your ponytail is perhaps in charge, there are just a few key indicators that may make it easier to inform in case your coiffure is the perpetrator. For one, in case your discomfort lessens when you loosen the type or take your hair out, that may very well be an indication it’s hairstyle-related. Additionally, in case your scalp feels tender — particularly close to the bottom of the cranium or behind the ears — or there’s a pulling or burning sensation the place the hair is tied, it’s possible because of your coiffure, Egbogah mentioned.
You may maintain carrying a ponytail, however with out the unwanted effects.
The excellent news? You don’t need to forgo this coiffure for good. McAllister urged utilizing a cloth scrunchie, as they “permit the hair to slide slightly, thus lowering the stress on the hair being pulled again,” she mentioned. Additionally, keep away from sleeping with a ponytail to alleviate stress on the hair follicles and scalp.
When you’re battling ache, you possibly can strive some at-home stretches for reduction. A chin tuck, as beneficial by McAllister, may also help retrain your cervical alignment — merely straighten your again, tuck your chin, maintain for 5 seconds and repeat 10 occasions.
Egbogah mentioned a pectoral stretch helps open up the pectoral muscle groups and drops the shoulders, thus easing neck stress and proper ahead head posture. To do that, interlock your fingers behind your again, holding your arms straight whereas pulling your fingers down in direction of the bottom. Squeeze your shoulder blades collectively and maintain for 5 seconds. “You need to really feel a cushty stretch via your chest,” Egbogah mentioned.
