• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.331-336
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of the craniocervical posture on swallowing and hyoid bone movement with sitting posture in wheelchair, and to provide basic data for developing a treatment program for dysphagia. A total of sixty healthy adults without a history of dysphagia who were guardians or care assistants of inpatients at Hospital K underwent video fluoroscopy performed by physiatrists from April to July 2009. The results of the fluoroscopy were analyzed based on the measurement of hyoid bone movements. The hyoid bone movement(horizontal, vertical, and diagonal) was significantly high in the neutral craniocervical, chin-tuck, and sixty degrees extension postures, in descending order(p<.05). It was found that the neutral craniocervical posture is the most effective posture for hyoid bone movement with sitting posture in wheelchair.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.581-590
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• 1991

This study was carried out for the comparison of the head postures between mouth breathers and normal nasal breathers. For this purpose, a test group of 28 mouth breathers, between the ages of 8 to 12 years old and a control group of 25 nasal breathers were used. Following results were obtained after comparing the craniofacial and craniocervical angulations to the True Vertical line. 1. In the comparisions relating to the True Vertical Line, results were obtained using four items; NSL/VER, FH/VER, NL/VER, PMV/VER. Variations were observed in all the items and the craniofacial angulations in the mouth breathers group showed more superior position compared to the control group. 2. In the comparisions relating to the craniocervical angulations, results were obtained using four items; NSL/OPT, FH/OPT, NL/OPT, PMV/OPT. Variations between the two groups were observed only in the PMV/OPT item and the mouth breather group showed more craniocervical angulations compared to the control group.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.59-64
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• 2008

The aims of this study were to compare and analyze two types of deep cervical flexion exercises, craniocervical flexion and cervical flexion, and to ascertain their relative effects on neck and shoulder pain and functional improvement. The participants of the study were individuals who work in sedentary jobs in an office environment. 54 appropriate subjects were chosen and randomly divided into two groups: one group underwent a craniocervical flexion exercise program and the other a cervical flexion exercise program. The six week exercise program consisted of home exercises performed by each subject five times a week and education once a week. Neck-shoulder pain, muscle strengthening, cervical alignment were measured prior to commencement of the exercise programs and again after six weeks. At completion of the six week, both exercise programs decreased neck pain (p<.05). Forward head postures were reduced, and the craniocervical flexion exercise program was more effective in reducing forward head posture (p<.05). The maximum muscle strength and 50% of maximum muscle strength maintaining time of the deep cervical flexor muscles were significantly increased. There were no significant changes of the cervical lordotic curve. The results of this study showed deep cervical flexion exercise was effective in the treatment of neck and shoulder pain, however craniocervical flexion exercise was more effective than cervical flexion exercise.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Purpose: This paper proposes proper and effective neck exercises by comparing the deep and superficial cervical flexor muscle activities and thickness according to the pressure level during cranio-cervical flexion exercises between a normal posture group and forward head posture group. Methods: A total of 20 subjects (8 males and 12 females) without neck pain and disabilities were selected. The subjects' craniovertebral angles were measured; they were divided into a normal posture and a forward head posture group. During cranio-cervical flexion exercises, the thickness of the deep cervical flexor neck muscle and the activity of the surface neck muscles were measured using ultrasound and EMG. Results: The results showed that the thickening of the deep cervical flexor was increased significantly to 28 and 30 mmHg in the forward head posture group. The sternocleidomastoid muscle activity increased significantly to 24, 26, 28, and 30 mmHg in the forward head posture group. The anterior scalene muscle activity increased significantly to 26, 28, and 30mmHg in the forward head posture group. A significant difference of 26, 28, and 30 mmHg in the sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene muscles was observed between two groups. Conclusion: To prevent a forward head posture and maintain proper cervical curve alignment, the use of the superficial cervical flexor muscles must be minimized. In addition, to perform a cranio-cervical flexion exercises to effectively activate the deep cervical flexor muscles, 28 and 30 mmHg for normal posture adults and 28 mmHg for adults with forward head postures are recommended.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.89-101
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• 1996

This study was performed to investigate influence of the changes of head posture on resting electromyographic (EMG) activity in anterior temporalis, masseter, sternocleidomastoid muscle and trapezius, and on status of occlusal contacts. For this study twenty-nine patients with temporomandibular disorders(TMD) and thirty dental students without any masticatory symptoms were selected as patients group and control group, respectively. EMG activity($\mu$V) at rest was observed in four kind of head postures such as natural or normal head posture(NHP), forward head posture(FHP), upward head posture(UHP), downward head posture(DHP), and in NHP and FHP, EMG activity with flat occlusal splint was also checked. BioEMG$^\textregistered$(Bioelectromyograph, Bioresearch Inc., USA) was used to record EMG activity in the above four muscles with eight locations on both sides. The author used T-Scan$^\textregistered$(Tekscan Co., USA) system to investigate the changes of oclusal contats on clenching in the four head postures about number, force, time(duration) and total left-right statistis(TLR, occlusal stability crossing left-right dental arch on clenching). For taking in upward or downward head posture, head was inclined $10^{\circ}$ upward or downward and CROM$^\textregistered$ (cervical-range-of motion, Performance attainment Inc., USA) was used to maintain same posture during the procedure. The results obtained were as follows : 1. For resting EMG activity, anterior temporalis did not show any difference by change of head posture, but masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscle showed higher value of EMG activity in FHP and UHP, and trapezius showed higher value of EMG activity in FHP and DHP. 2. EMG activity of trapezius was higher than that of any other muscles in NHP, FHP, and DHP, but in UHP, the activity was the lowest reversely. 3. Patients group showed higher EMG activity than control group did in all the muscles in NHP. And significant difference between the two groups were also observed in anterior temporalis in FHP, in sternocleidomastoid muscle in UHP, and in sterno-cleidomastoid muscle and trapezius in DHP with higher activity in patients group. 4. There was no change of EMG activity in NHp with splint, but EMG activity in anterior temporalis and masseter was decreased in FHP with splint. 5. In general, status of occlusal contacts was not changed with head posture in all subjects, and difference between patients group and control group was only noted for number and force of tooth contact in UHP and DHP with more value in control group. 6. Correlationship between EMG activity and number ad force of tooth contacts was shown negatively with regard to masseter in NHP, and trapezius in UHP and DHP.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 2014

This paper tries to examine whether the application of joint mobilization to subjects who have the forward head posture due to malalignment in the cervical joint has influence on posture changes and functions in the cervical joint. The subjects were 39 students from G University in Gyeongsangbuk-do. The cervical joint mobilization was applied to 20 subjects and not to 19. The students with a cervical lordosis angle of $21^{\circ}C$ or less, an anterior weight bearing (AWB) of 15mm or greater, and a cervical extension ROM of $70^{\circ}C$ or less in terms of radiography were selected as subjects under their voluntary agreement. The patients actively performed the joint mobilization slowly 8 times per session while therapists continuously applied sustained accessory glide to their painful joints 3 times per week for 4 weeks along with the cervical expansion and flexion in SNAGS among other Mulligan's (1995) techniques. The measurement was carried out in terms of radiographic inspection and neck disability indexes. As a result of the experiment, it turned out that the subjects with the forward head posture had changes in the cervical AWB and ARA, the ranges of expansion and flexion, and the NDI(Neck Disability Index) after the intervention for the experimental group by applying cervical joint mobilization. There were no changes observed in the control group. In conclusion, the application of joint mobilization turned out to have influence on the improvement of cervical joint postures, and craniocervical region functions.