• Archives of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of sport massage and McKenzie stretch exercise on forward head posture. To understand the effect, this study measured and analyzed body alignment of the neck. Methods: In this study, a total of 14 subjects with forward head posture were analyzed. Subjects were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=7) received a McKenzie stretch exercise and group 2 (n=7) received a McKenzie stretch exercise and a sport massage. The McKenzie stretch exercise was performed three times a week, for four weeks, while the sport massage was performed once a week. The body alignment of the neck (CVA, CRA) was measured using a goniometer. Results: The improvements in neck body alignments (CVA, CRA) after the McKenzie stretch exercise and sport massage were both significant (group 1: p<0.05; group 2: p<0.05), whereas the between-group comparison found no significant differences. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study confirmed that the McKenzie stretch exercise and sport massage had a significant positive effect on the body alignment of the neck. However, a study that included a greater number of subjects and a long-term treatment period is needed to generalize these results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of manual therapy with stabilization exercises to manual therapy alone, on neck pain and body functions in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. METHODS: Twenty patients with chronic mechanical neck pain were recruited and randomly allocated into two groups. A control group(n = 10) was given the manual therapy alone and an experimental group(n = 10) was given the manual therapy with stabilization exercises. The intervention was carried out 3 days per week for 4 weeks. The cervical resting pain, the most painful motion pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, forward head posture and neck disability index were used to assess participants at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: A comparison of the parameters before and after the intervention showed that both groups experienced significant improvements in the resting pain, the most painful motion pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, and forward head posture except for the forward head posture in the control group. A comparison of the parameters between the groups did not show a significant difference. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the combined intervention of manual therapy with stabilization exercise does not seem to be more effective than manual therapy alone for improving neck pain, craniocervical flexor endurance, forward head posture, and the neck disability index in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.155-160
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• 2022

Purpose: This study was to identify the effect of cervical stabilization exercise with visual feedback on the craniovertebral angle and foot pressure in subjects with forward head posture. Methods: Thirty healthy adults were recruited in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to the stabilization exercise with visual feedback (SE-VF) group (n=15) or stabilization exercise (SE) group (n=15). The SE-VF group performed cervical stabilization exercise while sitting on a chair without a backrest and checking their side profile in real time a monitor 3m away. The SE group performed the same cervical stabilization exercise as the SE-VF group accompanied by without visual feedback. Craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured to quantify forward head posture, and the foot pressure of the subjects were evaluated. Results: The foot pressure showed statistically significant differences pre and post in both midfoot and left metatarsal only in SE-VF group (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings of this study showed that the cervical stabilization exercise with visual feedback was effective for the foot pressure of subjects. In addition, based on the results of this study, it is suggested that visual feedback will be effective in cervical stabilization exercise.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.446-453
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• 2022

Objective: The popularization of smartphones can lead to abnormal cervical alignment in university students. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship among smartphone screen time, cervical alignment, and muscle function in university students. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Seventy-five university students participated in the study. They completed the evaluation of cervical alignment and muscle function, such as handgrip strength, proprioception, and muscle quality (tone, stiffness, and relaxation time). All participants recorded their general characteristics and individual smartphone screen time before the evaluation. They were evaluated craniovertebral angle (CVA) using smartphone application (angle meter 360) for measuring cervical alignment. The muscle function was assessed using a digital hand-held dynamometer, dual inclinometer, and MyotonPRO device. Results: Of all participants, twenty-five university students had forward head posture (CVA<49°, 33.33%). Independent t-test revealed that there were significant differences on smartphone screen time, muscle stiffness, and muscle relaxation between the participants with and without forward head posture (p<0.05). There were significant correlations between the smartphone screen time and the CVA, muscle tone, and muscle relaxation (r=-0.493, 0.250, and -0.500, respectively). Conclusions: The results indicate that the university students with forward head posture had high smartphone screen time and muscle stiffness compared to the students without forward head posture, and smartphone screen time might be associated with cervical alignment and muscle quality.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.43-51
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• 2017

Background: This study was carried out to compare the effects of shoulder stabilization exercise and thoracic extension exercise including deep neck flexor exercise on posture and pain targeting physical therapists and occupational therapists with forward head posture. Methods: A total of 30 physical therapists and occupational therapists (15 males, 15 females), who are working in the nursing hospital at Daejeon, were randomly divided into a shoulder stabilization group (n=10), a thoracic extension exercise (n=10), and a control group (n=10), and 3 times were carried out for 8 weeks. Results: In the results of all measurements, 2 groups except for the control group showed a significant change in the recovery of forward head posture, and the should stabilization exercise group showed a relatively superior effect compared to the thoracic extension exercise group. Conclusions: These results of a study will be a basic data for the development of the forward head posture exercise therapy program.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2017

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a 12-week professional body massage program (PMP) on forward head posture, neck pain, and plantar foot pressure balance in men in their 20s. Method: A total of 20 men with musculoskeletal diseases were recruited for this study. The participants were asked to take part in a PMP twice a week for 12 weeks. The cranial vertical angle (CVA) for forward head posture and visual analogue scale (VSC) for neck pain and right/left foot plantar pressure balances were extracted to compare between pre- and post-program differences. Results: CVAs before ($56.86{\pm}4.55^{\circ}$) and after ($62.72{\pm}4.57^{\circ}$) and VSCs before ($6.95{\pm}1.70$) and after ($1.70{\pm}1.56$) PMP revealed statistically significant differences. The right foot, after PMP, showed a significant increase in the plantar pressure balance from $46.17{\pm}2.95$ to $49.44{\pm}1.29%$, while the left foot decreased significantly from $53.83{\pm}2.95%$ to $50.56{\pm}1.29%$. Therefore, based on these results, it may be said that the foot pressure balance abilities were improved after PMP because the ideal foot pressure ratio is 50%. Conclusion: Consequently, it was suggested that a 12-week PMP could be utilized for improvement of forward head posture, neck pain, and foot plantar pressure balance in men in the 20s with musculoskeletal diseases.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2020

Background: Backward walking exercise may offer some unique and potentially beneficial differences compared with forward walking exercise. There is still a lack of research on backward walking exercises and forward head posture. Objects: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of backward walking exercise on college students forward head posture in their 20s. Methods: Twenty-one subjects participated in the experiment. The subjects were those with a craniovertebral angle (CVA) of 55 degrees or less who understood the purpose and method of this study and voluntarily agreed. A camera capable of taking pictures of the lateral plane was installed at a distance of 1.5 meters before exercising. Pictures were taken before walking backward, and after walking for 15 minutes on the treadmill, the images were taken in the same way. The composition of the backward walking exercise was walking at a rate of 1.0 for 5 minutes, and the remaining 10 minutes were walking at a rate of 1.5. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare CVA and craniorotational angle (CRA) before and after exercise. Results: As a result of this study, there was a significant difference in CVA before and after exercise (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in CRA before and after exercise (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The backward walking exercise and verbal command seems to have positively influenced the changes in CVA and CRA among college students in their 20s. It seems that studies to confirm balance or muscle activity as well as changes in forward head posture through the long-term intervention of the backward walking exercise should be conducted.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Background: This study was carried out to investigate the effect of mulligan taping group and repeated measurement group on muscle activity and grip strength of adult with forward head posture. Methods: Thirty adults with forward head posture were randomly assigned to each of 15 mulligan taping and repeat measurement groups. The mulligan taping group measured the pre-test and post-test muscle activity and the grip strength three times and compared the mean values. The repeat group was repeatedly measured and measured before and after the experiment, The collected data were analyzed using SPSS statistical program. Results: There was no significant difference between mulligan taping group and repeated measurement group in changes of muscle activity. There was a significant difference between mulligan taping group and repeated measurement group in changes of grip strength. Conclusions: Mulligan taping was applied to an adult with forward head posture, there was no significant change in muscle activity of flexor carpi radialis and palmaris longus, but it seems to improve hand function by re-aligned of nearby muscles by maintaining scapular stability.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.543-551
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• 2018

This study investigated the effects of corrective exercise and TECAR on cervical alignment, pain threshold, and pain in forward head posture patients. The subject includes 30 forward head posture patients. In the intervention methods, the experimental group combined corrective exercise and TECAR treatment. Only the corrective exercise was applied to the control group. Assessments were made on cervico vertebra angle (CV angle), pain pressure threshold (PPT) and neck disability index (NDI) visual analog scale (VAS). The intervention was conducted six times a week for two weeks. Both groups showed significant differences in CV angle, PPT, NDI, and VAS. Also, PPT, NDI, and VAS excluding CV angle were significantly improved in the study group compared to the control group. These results suggest that the intervention method that combines corrective exercise and TECAR treatment has a more positive effect on pain and ADL ability of forward head posture patient.