• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.989-993
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of occipital bone stimulation by cervical stabilizing exercise on the muscle tone, stiffness, ROM, and cervical lordosis in patient with forward head posture(FHP). This study was a case study of a single patient with forward head posture. This study used a ABA' design, A and A' were the baseline phases and B was the intervention phase. The intervention was occipital bone stimulation by cervical stabilization exercise. It was administered once daily for 7 days. The therapist kept hands together, and placed the two index fingers under the subject's occipital bone. The subject performed the chin-in exercise with a maximum isometric contraction for 20 sec.The exercise was implemented by performing the movements 10 times as a set and repeating the set three times. The muscle tone was not significantly changed after intervention. However, the stiffness was decreased and lasted the effect lasted without intervention. The cervical flexion angle was increased, but the cervical extension angle was not significantly changed after the intervention. The left and right lateral flexion angles were increased and the effect lasted without any intervention. However, the left and right rotation angles were significantly changed after the intervention. Cervical lordosis increased not from $37^{\circ}$ to $41^{\circ}$ after the intervention. These results suggest that occipital bone stimulation by cervical stabilizing exercise had a positive effect on cervical stiffness, flexion and lateral flexion ROM, and lordosis in a patient with forward head posture.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.193-201
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of pelvic exercise on the CVA and spinal curve in adults with forward head posture compared to the group using only neck exercise when pelvic exercise was performed in parallel with conventional neck exercise. Methods : GPS 400 and Formetric were used to identify craniovertebral angle (CVA), thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and pelvic torsion and were measured by an experienced research manager. Forward head posture (FHP) was selected for people whose angle between the line connecting the ear ball and the seventh cervical spine and the horizontal line is 50 degrees or less. The 30 selected students were randomly divided into 15 experimental groups and 15 control groups. Mackenzie exercise and sling exercise were performed for neck exercise in both the experimental group and the control group, and pelvic exercise using a Swiss ball was additionally performed in the experimental group. All data collected in this study were analyzed using SPSS statistics 21.0. Cervical vetebral angle (CVA), thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and pelvic torsion were compared at 0 weeks, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks for each measurement factor using ANOVA with repeated measures. For the statistical significance test, the significance level of α was set to .05. Results : The changes of pelvic torsion, thoracic kyphosis and CVA due to pelvic exercise using Swiss Ball and neck exercise were changed over time, but lumbar lordosis were not changed. And there were no significant differences among the groups. Conclusion : In conclusion, the pelvic correction exercise is considered to be an effective exercise for correcting the FHP and requires regular pelvic correction exercises. We expect the results to be used in clinical trials.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.51-59
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• 2022

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of mobilization with movement (MWM) applied to the ankle joint, on the craniovertebral angle (CVA), pressure pain threshold, and neck disability index (NDI) in asymptomatic adults with a forward head posture (FHP). Methods: A total of 32 subjects with FHP were assigned to either the MWM group (N=16) or the cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) group (n=16). The CVA, pressure pain threshold and NDI were measured before and 4 weeks after the intervention. Results: A significant improvement in the CVA was observed in the MWM group (p<.05), whereas no significant changes (p>.05) were observed in the CCFE group. Both groups showed significant differences in the pressure pain threshold and NDI before and after the intervention (p<.05). Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that MWM applied to the ankle joint can effectively improve the CVA, pressure pain threshold, and NDI of adults with a forward head posture. Based on this study, the ankle MWM technique for dorsiflexion can be used as an objective research method for additional studies targeting FHP patients in the future.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.195-202
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• 2013

Objectives This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the forward head posture and the spinal alignment. Methods We examined the whole spine x-rays of the 144 student sample. We measured the Craniovertebral angle (CVA), Cervical angle (CA), Thoracic kyphotic angle (TKA), lumbar lordosis angle (LLA) and Ferguson's angle (FA) of the students. We then analyzed the relationship between these angles. Results CVA had correlation with CA, but it was weak. There was significant correlation between CVA and TKA. There were no significant correlation among CVA, LLA and FA. Conclusions According to above results, there is a negative relationship between the CVA and the TKA - in that higher CVAs yielded lower TKAs. But CVA had no significant correlation with LLA or FA.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 2012

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to show the effect of postural training through action observation (AO) on craniovertebral angle (CVA) and cranial rotation angle (CRA) of forward head posture (FHP). Methods : From 16 subjects of having the FHP who consist of postural training through the AO (n = 8) and control group (n = 8) were training to three times per one week during three weeks. FHP measurements for pre and post the intervention use to Wiz-pacs(Wiz-Picture Achiving Communication System) from X-ray change of CVA and CRA. Results : The study for the change within the group pre and post the intervention, CVA and CRA were found the significant differences only in the postural training group through the AO (p<.05). In the comparison of the rates of change between the groups pre and post the intervention CVA and CRA all showed the significant differences (p<.05), and in the comparison of the rates of average change of individual variables in each groups, the postural training group through the AO showed more change rates. Conclusion : The study suggests that when people with FHP received the postural training, the postural training through the AO resulted in more change into the correct postures.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.351-357
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• 2019

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the effects of the McKenzie exercise program on forward head posture and respiratory function. Methods: Thirty adult men and women with forward head posture, aged 20-29 years, were randomly assigned to the experimental group (N=15) or the control group (N=15). Subjects in the experimental group performed the McKenzie exercises three times a week for four weeks, while subjects in the control group did not receive any intervention. Craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured to quantify forward head posture, and forced vital capacity (FVC), FVC % predicted, forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV₁), and FEV₁ % predicted were measured to determine changes in respiratory function. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to analyze pre-test differences in forward head posture and respiratory function between the two groups, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze differences in forward head posture and respiratory function within the groups before and after intervention. The significance level (α) was set to 0.05. Results: A comparison of pre- and post-test measures showed that CVA significantly increased in the experimental group (p=0.001) denoting postural improvement, whereas no significant difference was found in the control group (p=0.053). All respiratory measures, i.e.,FVC, FVC %pred, FEV₁, and FEV₁ %pred, were significantly improved in the experimental group, whereas there were no significant differences in the control group. Conclusions: McKenzie exercise can be effective in improving forward head posture and respiratory function.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.112-118
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• 2016

The neck pain is fairly common occurance. Forward head posture and text neck are poor postures which may be related with neck pain but the evidence is not enough. We developed the wearable sensor which can assess the head & neck posture in daily life. Microprocessor, Bluetooth low energy, and 3-axis accelerometer, rechargeable battery and vibratior for reminding are used to implement the wearable sensor. Real-time algorithm to parameterize the posture for one epoch is implemented which classifies the posture in the epoch into three classed; dynamic, static_good posture, and static_poor posture. Also the algorithm makes reminding to its wearer to give them the prolonged poor posture is detected. The mean error of measurement was 1.2 degree. The correlation coefficient between neck angle and craniovertebral angle was 0.9 or higher in all cases. With the pilot study on text neck syndrome was also quatified. Average of neck angle were 74.3 degree during the listening in the classroom and 57.8 degree during the smartphoning. Using the wearable sensor suggested, the poor postures of forward head posture and neck neck can be detected in real-time which can remind the wearer according to his/her setting.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.291-294
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• 2017

It is known that laptop computer stand is helpful to maintain the good posture while using laptop computer on the desk. But the quantitative validation of its effect has not been reported. Using the wearable neck posture tracker, the forward flexion angle of the neck can be measured in daily life. In this study, the forward flexion angles of the neck while using the laptop computer with and without laptop computer stand were compared. From the posture data of 10 subjects for 6 hours, the average of the forward flexion angle was 0.9 degree with laptop computer stand and 16.3 degree without laptop computer stand. As the conclusion, laptop computer stand can decrease the forward flexion angle which is known as forward head posture while using the laptop computer on the desk.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2018

Background: In this paper, the relationship between the Cranio-Vertebral Angle (CVA) and the vital capacity in each position is reviewed, and the vital capacity in the position is studied. Methods: This study targeted 20 non-smoking female students of U university, which is located in Gyeongju-si. To review the Forward Head Posture (FHP) of each subject, CVA was measured, and FVC, FEV1, and FEF (25-75%) were measured and analyzed using a spirometer. Subjects were ordered to exhale three times with ease and then inhale up to their total lung capacity. After then, they were requested to exhale longer than six seconds. Then the inspiration and expiration were repeated. The measurement was executed in three positions, including supine, prone, and sitting. In each position the measurement was repeated twice, and a one-minute break was given between each cycle, so it was measured six times in total. SPSS 14.0 for Windows was used to analyze the data. The subjects' general properties were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the correlation between the angle and the respiration variable result in each position was analyzed. The result of the respiration variable in each position was analyzed using the one-way ANOVA, and then a Scheffe post-hoc comparison was executed. Results: According to the analysis result of the correlation between the angle and respiration variable in each position, the sitting position and FEF (25-75%) showed a positive correlation (P<0.05). The respiration variable in each position showed a significant difference in FVC (p<0.05), and the Scheffe post-hoc comparison differed in prone and sitting positions. Conclusion: To increase the FVC of FHP patients, different exercises for each position can be applied, and the result of this study can be utilized as background data for further research.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.53-61
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• 2019

PURPOSE: Forward head posture (FHP) is a head-on-trunk malalignment that results in musculoskeletal dysfunction and neck pain. To improve forward head posture, both the craniocervical flexion exercise (CCFE) and the visual guide (VG) technique have been used. This study compared the immediate effects of CCFE and VG combined with CCFE on craniovertebral angle (CVA), as well as on the activity of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and anterior scalene (AS) muscles during CCFE in subjects with FHP. METHODS: In total, 16 subjects (nine males, seven females) with FHP were recruited using the G-power software. Each subject conducted CCFE and CCFE combined with VG in random order. The CVA was recorded using a digital camera and the ImageJ image analysis software. The EMG data of SCM and AS were measured by surface electromyography. A paired T-test was used to assess differences between the effects of the CCFE and VG combined with CCFE interventions in the same group. RESULTS: The CVA was significantly greater for CCFE combined with the VG than for CCFE alone (p<.05). The activity of the SCM and AS muscles was also significantly greater when the VG was combined with CCFE than during CCFE alone across all craniocervical flexion exercise phases (p<.05). CONCLUSION: Use of the VG technique combined with CCFE improved FHP in subjects with FHP compared to CCFE alone.