HALO POSTURE™ HEAD WEIGHTS

Version 2
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The above pictures are the Halo Posture Version 2

  • About Halo Posture Head Weights

    Do Your Patients Suffer from Forward Head Posture?

    The Halo Posture™ Head Weight is a clinically-proven, effective product for correcting Forward Head Posture,  restoring the normal cervical curve, and rehabilitating weak or injured cervical muscles.

    How Does It Work?

    The concept of using weights to correct imbalances in posture was first described by Nicolas Andry, the father of orthopedics, in 1741.  When the HaloPosture™ is worn, the body reacts to the weight by shifting its center of mass in the opposite direction, to compensate for the increased load.

    The nervous system of the body adapts in time and need to its environment. When a weight is placed on the body in the appropriate manner, and worn for a period of time, the body will adapt to this new position and gradually develop a permanent, healthier, and more balanced position. This reduces stress and strain upon the muscles and can also help low back pain.

    Why is the Halo Posture™ Superior to Similar Products on the Market?

    • SAFETY & COMFORT:   The Halo Posture™ is made with a material known as Geoprene, which is soft, elastic, and completely non-toxic. Artificial or synthetic fibers can be irritating or harmful. Doctors have observed that patient compliance with spinal weighting protocols increases dramatically when the HaloPostureTM is recommended over other head-weights that are less comfortable and use non-natural materials.
    • DURABILIY:  Geoprene is more than twice as durable as its synthetic cousin, neoprene, and will outperform any other cloth material on the market.
    • EARTH-FRIENDLY:   Neoprene is made with petroleum chemicals and byproducts.  In comparison, Geoprene is an organic compound made from lime-stone whose molecular structure is 99.7 percent calcium carbonate. This means biodegradable materials and a healthier future for our children.
    • BACKED BY RESEARCH: Dr. Dennis Woggon, the founder of the CLEAR Scoliosis Institute, has conducted numerous clinical trials and published research verifying the benefits of head weighting. His research continues to be incorporated into new designs of the Halo Posture, continually improving its effectiveness. The x-rays and diagrams on the adjacent page demonstrate how the  Halo Posture™ outperforms the competition. 

  • Practitioner Guidelines

    Many Chiropractors and Physical Therapists use differing variations of head weighting. Therefore, we do not recommend any specific methodology. We would suggest reviewing the following information:
    In consideration of the vast spectrum of people with cervical deficiencies, each patient has to be evaluated individually taking into consideration his or her physical stature.

    Like any muscle strengthening program, starting with lighter weight is advisable. New patients should not wear the Halo Posture for more than five minutes.

    If the patient does not complain of any immediate and sudden pain, then the patient should use it at home as directed.

    Initial use for patients should not exceed 5 minutes a day for a week. The time for daily use should be increased to 10 minutes for 2-3 weeks and then 15 minutes for another 2-3 weeks. Activation of proprioceptors is encouraged by having the patient sit on a balance ball, stand, or walk while keeping their jaw-line parallel to the floor while wearing the Halo.

    If your planning to use the Halo as a neck rehabilitative tool, follow the basic instructions on the package and start with no more than a couple minutes of use per day. Again, starting the patient with lighter weight is advised.

    Again, only you "The Health Care Professional" can decide the best and safest course of rehabilitation for a particular patient.

    If you would like to know more about the benefits of the Halo Posture, Please feel free to contact us. Our customer care specialists are available Monday-Friday 9am-5pm PST to answer your questions and take your order.

  • Head Weighting Protocols

    Before getting started with the HALO:
    As with all other forms of active rehabilitation, in order for patients to qualify for active rehabilitation with the Halo system, they MUST be free of acute pain with activities of daily living (ADLs).

    Ideally, they should have 25% or more of normal range of motion in the cervical spine, in all directions with little or no pain during movement, BEFORE starting Halo protocols.

    It goes without saying that the Halo system is contraindicated with acute disc patients, acute sprain/strain injuries and anyone whose symptoms increase whilst performing the Halo protocol.

    HALO sizing:
    Halo Posture and Halo Rejuvenator head weights come in various sizes and range in weight from 1 pound to 5 pounds. There are a number of factors that will determine the proper weighting for yourself and your patients.
    Physical fitness, age, sex, frame size, strength, degree of dysfunction, symptoms, body awareness, balance and coordination must all be taken into account when making your clinical decision about what size Halo to use.

    That being said, below you find a general guideline:
    • For children and small adults we start with a 1 lb. or 2 lb. Halo - head weight only
    • For men under 170 lbs. and most women we start with a 2 lb. Halo and a 5 lb. anterior chest weight
    • For men over 180 we start with a 3 lb. Halo and either a 8 lb. or 10 lb. anterior chest weight
    REMEMBER, the above chart is only a guideline. Some patients can handle more weight and for others, you may have to reduce the weight. The poorer the patient’s physical condition the longer the process of posture correction will take.

    When in doubt, USE LESS WEIGHT and/or time. You can always add more weight later but if the patient becomes very sore they will not be excited to try it again.

    Most common "escape" patterns:
    • Neck buckling with chin jutting forward - head goes further into forward head posture (MUST reduce the weight - the patient is being crushed)
    • Hyperextension of the lumbar spine – severe atrophy of antigravity musculature, usually with hip flexor and lumbar erector dominance (MUST cue patient into proper position)

    HALO Timing:
    The issue of timing is much more straight-forward than sizing. The frequency of treatment needs to be enough to force an adaptation while avoiding excessive wear and tear.
    • Almost all patients will begin at 2 minutes per day, two to three times per week.
    • Treatment time is typically increased by one to two minutes per week. Some patients can handle greater increases in time and for others you'll have to back it down.
    • The long-term time goal is 20 minutes per day, seven times per week (until forward head posture has been eliminated at which point the patient can shift to a maintenance schedule).

    Keep in mind that we want to keep patient soreness to an absolute minimum or, better yet, avoid it all together.  Most often, the patient will work up to 10 minute Halo sessions during his/her office visits (with the cueing that is sometimes necessary to achieve the correct position) before transitioning to daily use at home.

    As the patient transitions to performing active care at home, their daily training time is typically cut in half while increasing the frequency. If they were up to 10 minutes per day, 2 times per week (for a total weekly training load of 20 minutes) and we go to 5 minutes per day, 6-7 times per week (for a total weekly load of 30 to 35 minutes). With this, their weekly training load has nearly doubled while giving them the feeling that they're getting a little break.

    HALO Implementation:
    The Halo protocol MUST ALWAYS be performed with bare feet. Not only will bare foot contact with ground increase proprioception but, elevated heels work against the patient by pushing the head further into forward head posture.

    Within a typical session, soft tissue work is performed first, the patient is then adjusted, as only joints that are free from subluxation (substitute any word you prefer for "subluxation" if that word upsets you - it's the concept that matters) are able to provide the necessary afferentation to the cerebellum then, the Halo protocol which follows may be employed.

    Most patients will begin with standing in place. As comfort level, body awareness, balance, strength and physical fitness increases, the patient can slowly progress up the proprioception continuum. These positions and movements drive increased proprioception to the brain and may be added PROVIDED the patient can maintain PROPER POSTIONING AT ALL TIMES.

    The Proprioception Continuum:
    • Standing
    • Standing on one foot
    • Standing on a wobble board or inflatable balance disc
    • Walking
    • Walking backward
     
    General Tips:
    • It is strongly recommended that in a addition to having the patient fill out and update the standard neck disability index questionnaires, that doctors video record (with the patient's permission , of course) the BEFORE and AFTER postural assessment, range of motion and functional testing with all patients using the Halo system. They will, no doubt, notice that daily tasks become easier for them as their posture improves and they become stronger but, it's very powerful to show them on video just how dysfunctional they were when they started (which they may not remember in great detail).

    • If the patient EVER returns for a follow-up office visit complaining of soreness, simply cut the last time they used in half (and/or reduce the training weight by 1 pound). You can always go up again at another appointment.

    • The MOST IMPORTANT skill for doctors to develop when starting a patient on the Halo system is OBSERVATION. If the weight forces the patient to buckle, or to try and "escape" out from under it AT ANY TIME DURING THE PROCESS, the weight (and, often times, the training time) will have to be reduced. That patient should also be monitored and cued THE ENTIRE TIME they are performing the protocol until they have built up a decent base level of body awareness and strength in their postural system.

    • Having the patient perform the Halo protocol in front of a mirror can be a tremendous aid in developing body awareness and can save the doctor a significant amount time which would otherwise be spent monitoring the patient.

    • REMEMBER the key to the Halo system is CONSISTENCY OVER TIME. We are working against the unrelenting force of gravity and it’s affect on the human frame. Each minute spent using the Halo system is building up the body’s resistance mechanisms and moving the patient towards optimal function.

    Copyright Wellness Works Chiropractic Yoni Whitten D.C., C.C.W.P. 2014

  • FAQ About Halo Posture Head Weights

    Q.  How long should the patient be expected to wear the head weights?

    A.  Although results vary from patient to patient, most doctors versed in head weighting protocol agree that to achieve maximum long-term results, a patient should wear the head weights daily for a minimum of 20 minutes for 60 to 90 days.  Activities such as walking, using a treadmill, exercise ball or vibration board will accelerate proprioception and increase stimulation of the righting reflexes.  It is important to stress to the patient that continued use (once or twice a week) of the Halo Posture along with adjustments is important to maintain the results they achieve after 60-90 days.


    Q.  Are these head weights effective when addressing Lateral Translation or Tilt?

    A.  They can be effective for Tilt.  Simply turn the head weight emphasizing more weight to the side of the head with Tilt and visually establish whether Tilt has improved.


    Q.  Do the Halo Posture head weights adjust for varying head sizes?

    A.  Yes.  All the Halo Posture head weights (except the 1 lb Posture) have two velcro adjustable straps to accommodate all head sizes.  The 1 lb Posture has one adjustable strap.


    Q.  Are the head weights and its protocol billable to insurance?

    A.  Yes.  Please contact us at 888-884-4256 and we will provide you with the billing codes.


    Q.  How can I learn more about the benefits of head weighting protocol?

    A.  With the assistance of Dr. Dennis Woggon, Founder of Clear Institute, we have created a comprehensive thirty-minute video which articulates the diagnosis, application and results of Anterior Head Weighting.

  • Our head weights are made from a highly elastic yet durable neoprene material and weighted with high-density carbon steel microspheres.  All of our products come with a 90-day full money back guarantee and a 180-day construction defects warranty.  Halo Posture is hand made in the USA.

  • Practitioner Testimonials

    Halo Posture head weights are one of the most powerful ways of preventing and reversing Forward Head Posture, Text Neck as well as their related symptoms and dysfunction. This ingenious device accomplishes its’ goal in two ways.

    First and foremost, the Halo Posture head weights serve a strengthening tool not for a single muscle but, for the entirety of the body’s uprighting and anti-gravity system – all the way down to the feet. These muscles perform their anti-gravity functions both subconsciously and isometrically and they must be conditioned and trained in the manner in which they operate if meaningful progress is to be made. These head weights make that possible.

    Second, these head weights enhance proprioception and therefore physical awareness of head position. By alerting the head’s relationship to the gravity line, the brain is forced to recalibrate muscular tension of muscles throughout the body to bring the head back in line with the pull of gravity. By physically moving the head back in line with the body’s center of gravity, cervical lordosis is encouraged, the alignment of facet joints improves and the body as a whole moves into a more efficient position from which to resist the pull of gravity.

    All in all, the Halo Posture head weights create the perfect environment for generating lasting postural change in the body.

    - Yoni Whitten, D.C., C.C.W.P.

    Early in my Chiropractic career I found adjusting patients and seeing positive results in subjective complaints was nice, however I was still frustrated not achieving consistent, measurable, objective results in terms of correction on x-ray. So around 2006 I began to study all the techniques and information available to achieve better improvements. Since then I have used everything from Pettibon and their rabbit ear bar-style headweights, to CBP, to the CLEAR Institute methods. All of these techniques have made great advancements and I am grateful for their contributions to our great profession.

    As time advanced, naturally there is an evolution in the products that are available. Old bar- style weights, while they served their purpose, had the disadvantage of leaving dents in foreheads and often resulting in headaches of their own. Not to mention the drops and falls that resulted in many reports of broken tiles and blackened toes. From there I actually produced my own headweights for a while, filling velcro strapped bags with lead shot purchased from a local gun shop. While much more comfortable they lacked refinement. So finding the Halo Posture, I was thrilled with the quality of the design, the comfort of the materials to the wearer, and the time it saved me in having an economical and versatile product I could stock readily for all of my patients. For years now, while I individually evaluate each patient’s needs through extensive x- ray, and now DMX analysis, I find the vast majority of my patients respond best to the Halo Posture of all the products we’ve tested. Best of all, patients who are prescribed and involved in home therapy and rehab take greater responsibility for their care rather than holding the doctor solely responsible. This makes for a true partnership which brings great rewards to all involved.

    Through DMX analysis I then designed the Posture Trainer in coordination with Halo Products who now manufacture the product. This was a perfectly matched partner for the Halo Posture further helping to maintain an upright posture while encouraging normal spinal curves. Through this combination we are now achieving posture correction better than ever before, more reliable and consistent scoliosis reductions than ever before, and recording predictable patterns through initial testing that we use to more efficiently manage patient care. This makes the whole process more satisfying for the patient, more affordable due to less waste in ineffective components of care, while also maximizing profitability for the practice. I encourage all concerned health care providers to put these points into practice because poor posture is a global epidemic, and these devices provide the best means of support available today.

    - Dr. Michael Bucknell

    For 16 years I have been teaching approximately 35 seminars per year and I also have an active private practice.  Along with the clinical information, I demonstrate products that provide additional solutions to assist doctors while helping their patients.

    After much success with the seminars and in my practice, I was introduced to the Halo Posture Head Weighting System. I immediately recognized the improvement in the quality of this product, compared to anything similar in the industry. The Halo Posture Head Weighting System also provides a therapy for the cervical spine and the nervous system that I was not currently using.  The progressive system that starts with a symmetrical 1 lb head weight, then progresses to the anterior 1 lb weight, 2 lb weight, etc. is perfect for addressing a patients individual need and providing  a progression to be able to maximize the healing and strengthening benefits and to enhance structural correction.

    We also incorporate the head weights with various dynamic movements, such as standing up from a chair, lying to standing, etc. We also use Halo Posture head weights with other rehabilitation equipment.  There is the benefit of increasing neurological recruitment while doing a variety of band exercises for shoulder and/or pelvis while using the head weights.  We have also seen the Halo Posture head weights work amazingly well when athletes incorporate it with the use of a “Calf Master” for performance training.

    I highly recommend any professional include the use of the Halo Posture Head Weighting System by itself or along with their other treatment protocols as a valuable addition to their practice.

    - Jerome Rerucha D.C., B.S., C.S.C.S., C.H.P.S.
    Certified Human Performance Specialist

    Dear Scott;

    I wanted to send you a quick note describing the incredible benefits I have seen in patients with a common (and commonly missed) spinal instability resulting from auto collision trauma. As you’re likely aware, the cervical spine is often injured in auto collisions. In fact, considering the results from several recent studies, the percentages of those involved in auto collisions that suffer some degree of permanent injury is right around 50%.

    Permanently injured tissues can include bone, ligament, tendon, intervertebral disc, or muscle. We have been using Halo Posture products to address the instability resulting from traumatic injury to the spinal ligaments, specifically those located at the top of the cervical spine. Injury to the Alar Ligament(s) can result in a very problematic spinal instability of the upper cervical spine, as it can affect blood flow to the brain. In my clinic, we have found Halo Posture products to be especially helpful in the rehabilitation of such instability, although this happened somewhat by accident.

    In the mid-2000s, we began using Halo Posture products to help address anterior head posture in our patients. Some of our auto trauma patients had received head weighting rehab protocols for their anterior head posture. Coincidentally, a handful of these also had significant instability at C1-C2 secondary to Alar ligament injury. Once these patients completed their rehabilitation and were re-examined, we noticed that their instability had greatly improved. This stood in contrast to the patients who’d suffered Alar ligament injury but didn’t have forward head posture, and therefore hadn’t received Halo Posture rehabilitation.

    After some study, we realized that the same suboccipital muscle groups that help restore normal posture when strengthened (namely the Obliquus Capitis (OC) Superior and Inferior, and the Rectus Capitis Posterior (RCP) Major and Minor), also help to stabilize the Occiput-C1-C2 joint complexes. As such, we recommend and utilize Halo Products for not only Forward Head Posture, but for serious spinal instability.

    Sincerely,
    Jack Sells D.C.