In keeping with chiropractors, a sure go-to coiffure may very well be doing greater than wanting cute.
It’s fast, simple and requires little-to-no hairstyling expertise, however when you’ve been coping with pressure complications, neck ache or poor posture, your excessive ponytail may very well be accountable.
“Whereas tight hairstyles might look like a minor behavior, their cumulative impact on spinal well being, muscle steadiness and neurological operate will be important,” mentioned Sherry McAllister, president of the Basis for Chiropractic Progress.
Forward, chiropractors clarify why this seemingly harmless fashion may very well be wrecking your neck — and what you are able to do to attenuate the injury with out giving it up solely.
Are ponytails dangerous in your neck?
Whereas ponytails aren’t inherently dangerous in your neck, excessive, tight ponytails could cause points — particularly when worn incessantly.
The typical human head weighs about 10 to 12 kilos, and even small modifications in head place can dramatically enhance the load in your neck muscular tissues and backbone. Excessive, tight ponytails pull the scalp and hair upwards and backward, “which creates pressure on the fascia (connective tissue) of the scalp,” mentioned Liza Egbogah, a chiropractor and osteopath. “This fascia is steady with the muscular tissues of the neck and higher again, and may change into tight and strained because of pressure on the fascia.”
A excessive, tight ponytail also can have an effect on posture and alignment within the cervical backbone. It’s because so as to cut back the ponytail-induced pressure on the scalp, it’s possible you’ll be subconsciously altering your head positioning and transferring your head ahead, which implies “the pinnacle 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, pressure complications, rolled ahead shoulders and a hunched higher again.”
One factor to notice is that when you put on excessive, tight ponytails typically, it will possibly create persistent pressure on the scalp and neck muscular tissues, which might set you up for persistent pressure complications, McAllister mentioned. “Chiropractors typically see sufferers with seemingly unrelated signs (like uninteresting complications) which might be traced again to cumulative pressure equivalent to hair being pulled again too tight,” she added.
Lastly, carrying a decent, excessive ponytail also can affect the nerves in your scalp and neck, notably if the fashion creates extreme stress or pressure over time. “A decent coiffure could cause the muscular tissues on the base of the cranium and higher neck to tighten up and compress the nerves operating via them, which might trigger tingling down the neck and/or into the higher shoulders,” Egbogah mentioned.
It might probably additionally have an effect on your face.
Aside from posture, cervical backbone alignment and pressure, a excessive, tight ponytail also can have an effect on the jaw. “For the reason that fascia of the scalp is steady with the jaw, this coiffure also can trigger jaw muscular tissues to tighten up, resulting in jaw ache and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) points,” Egbogah mentioned.
It’s because hair that’s pulled again too tightly can create stress on the temporal area, the place a few of the muscular tissues concerned in jaw motion are situated. This may result in tightness in the important thing muscular tissues on this space which might be answerable for chewing and jaw operate, probably inflicting jaw soreness, clenching or complications that really feel like they originate from the temples.
The best way to inform in case your ponytail is accountable in your ache:
In case you’re experiencing head, neck or jaw ache and suspect your ponytail is likely to be accountable, there are a couple of key indicators that may show you how to inform in case your coiffure is the perpetrator. For one, in case your discomfort lessens when you loosen the fashion 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 probably as a result of your coiffure, Egbogah mentioned.
You may preserve carrying a ponytail, however with out the unwanted effects.
The excellent news? You don’t must forgo this coiffure for good. McAllister recommended utilizing a material scrunchie, as they “enable the hair to slide a little bit, thus decreasing the strain on the hair being pulled again,” she mentioned. Additionally, keep away from sleeping with a ponytail to alleviate pressure on the hair follicles and scalp.
In case you’re combating ache, you’ll be able to attempt some at-home stretches for reduction. A chin tuck, as beneficial by McAllister, may 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 muscular tissues and drops the shoulders, thus easing neck pressure and proper ahead head posture. To do that, interlock your palms behind your again, maintaining your arms straight whereas pulling your palms down in the direction of the bottom. Squeeze your shoulder blades collectively and maintain for 5 seconds. “It is best to really feel a cushty stretch via your chest,” Egbogah mentioned.
