Silent neck signal: Why your posture is secretly harming your health and what to doA "dowager's hump"—a fatty deposit at the base of the neck near the seventh cervical vertebra—is often more than a cosmetic concern; it is a physical signal of musculoskeletal dysfunction. Causes and the Role of PostureThe formation of a hump at the base of the neck is directly linked to chronic muscle overstrain. A primary driver is "computer neck," where prolonged smartphone use significantly increases the load on the cervical spine. The routine should begin with soft stretching of the back of the neck, shoulder blade retraction (such as the "lock" exercise behind the back), and core strengthening. Marina Guseva, Pilates instructor: "A common error is attempting to strengthen the neck muscles when they are already overstrained.