Do you often experience headaches, neck or shoulder pain, or tension in your upper back or jaw? These symptoms are becoming more common—and a major cause is poor posture, especially a condition known as Upper Crossed Syndrome (UCS).
Want to know more? Request a Callback
Or give us a call, to find out how we can help you with Upper Crossed Syndrome and Chiropractic Treatment.
Book an Appointment
Schedule an appointment for Upper Crossed Syndrome and Chiropractic Treatment tailored to your needs.
Upper Crossed Syndrome is a postural imbalance that develops slowly over time. It’s often caused by long hours spent sitting at a desk, driving, or using electronic devices.
In UCS, certain muscles become tight, while others become weak. This imbalance affects how your body moves and can lead to discomfort, fatigue, and injury.
Forward head posture
Rounded shoulders
Increased curve in the upper back
These postural changes might seem minor at first, but over time they can lead to real problems.
Forward head posture puts extra strain on the neck joints and muscles.
It can reduce neck mobility and compress nearby nerves, leading to pain, tingling, or numbness in the arms.
Rounded shoulders decrease space around the shoulder joint.
This can cause muscle strain, tendon compression, or even arthritis.
The shoulder blades may also shift position, affecting your upper back stability.
Increased curvature in the upper back (thoracic kyphosis) can limit rib and lung movement.
This may reduce your lung capacity, affect your breathing, and impact physical performance.
Poor posture can also lead to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, where nerves and blood vessels in the neck and shoulder become compressed.
UCS usually develops over months or years. It often begins silently, without noticeable symptoms. A simple movement—like reaching or turning your head—can trigger pain when the imbalance becomes too much for your body to handle.
In many cases, UCS is seen alongside Lower Crossed Syndrome, which affects the lower back and pelvis.
Our chiropractors can assess your posture, identify UCS, and design a tailored treatment plan.
This may include:
Spinal adjustments to improve joint movement
Stretching tight muscles
Strengthening weak muscles
Postural retraining to help you maintain better alignment
With regular chiropractic care and targeted exercises, it’s possible to reverse many of these changes and reduce symptoms.
If you’re experiencing ongoing neck, shoulder, or upper back pain—or noticing changes in your posture—don’t wait for it to get worse. Book a posture check with one of our chiropractors and take the first step toward feeling better.
Try these exercises to try eliminate that shrimp posture. 👉 1. Chin Tucks ✅ Stand with your back against a wall, a towel rolled up behind your head, placing it at the level of your ears✅ Gently tuck your chin straight back (not down)✅ Hold for 10-15 seconds✅ Repeat 10x🧠 Tip: You should feel a
McGills Big 3 exercises The Side Plank The Bird-Dog The Curl Up View this post on Instagram A post shared by Isis Chiropractic Centres (@isischiropracticclinic)
Chiropractic; If you get back pain from gardening, it is likely that you already have an underlying problem that needs attention.
Lower Crossed Syndrome is a common muscular imbalance syndrome seen in chiropractic, which is often caused by poor posture, prolonged sitting and a lack of core stability for the spine.