• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2015

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the vital capacity and maximal voluntary ventilationin subjects with forward head posture (FHP). METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects participated in this study (normal 14, FHP 14) and were resident in B city. The mean age, height and weight of subjects was 22.80yrs, 169.36cm and 62.79kg. Subjects were asked to breath maximally for FVC and repeatedly for MVV during 12 seconds. The variables of data were collected as follows: Forced Vital Capacity(FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second($FEV_1$), $FEV_1$/FVC, Maximal Voluntary Ventilation(MVV). Each trial was performed by 3 times and we used the means to analyze the data. The mann-whitney U test and independent t-test were used to compare the vital capacity between normal and FHP subjects. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21.0 for window versionand p-values less than 0.05 were used to identify significant differences. RESULTS: The FVC, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC and MVV of FHP subjects were decreased more than that of normal subjects and the difference was statistically significant between two groups. CONCLUSION: The vital capacity of subjects with FHP was generally lower than normal subjects. This study shows that the vital capacityof subjectswith FHP could be decreased due to the bad neck posture that weakens the respiratory accessory muscles of neck.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to find out the effect of exercise on the angle and distance between scapular stability and McKenzie stretch exercise. Method : 30 volunteers took part in this experiment and we divided into three groups(experimental group A, experimental group B, control group C). Experimental group A performed scapular stabilization exercise and experimental group B performed McKenzie neck stretching exercise and control group didn't perform any exercise. Experimental group(A, B) received a total of 12 exercise session over a 4 week period (three times per week). Posture and craniovertebral angle changes of the neck using GPS measurements reported. Result : The CVA and distance change after exercise were significantly reduced in the experimental group A and B. Conclusion : Therefore, we have confirmed through experiments reducing a CVA and distance between scapular stabilization and McKenzie neck stretching exercises, whereby we would also be helpful to ensure the treatment of forward head posture.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.149-158
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• 2021

Purpose : Forward head posture (FHP) is one of the most common postural malalignment of the cranio-cervical region. Previous studies have reported that FHP might affect both temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and cervical muscles, but still remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to compare the changes of craniovertebral angle (CVA) and muscle properties after smartphone use in healthy individuals with and without FHP. Methods : Fifteen healthy individuals aged 18 to 22 years were included. CVA was evaluated using Dartfish motion analysis, and the subjects were divided into two groups according to their CVA: a FHP group (n = 7, CVA less than 48 °) and a control group (n = 8, CVA more than 48 °). MyotonPro was used to measure muscle properties of masseter, digastric and sternocleidomastoid muscles (SCM). Each subject underwent 15-minutes of smartphone task (web browsing or video watching) in relaxed sitting posture. CVA and muscles properties were assessed both before and after the smartphone task. Results : There were significant changes in post measurements of CVA between the groups. Masseter muscle showed significant differences in pre and post measurements of all muscle properties, and digastric muscle showed significance only in muscle tone. Amount of changes (post-pre), however, showed no significant difference in this study. Conclusion : 15-minutes of smartphone task did not affect CVA and muscle properties of masseter, digastric and SCM in both groups, however, there were significant changes in pre and post measurements of CVA and some muscle properties of masseter and digastric muscles. Therefore, CVA, masseter and digastric muscles might be significantly changed in a heavy duration of smartphone usage more than 15-minutes. Further studies are needed regarding duration of smartphone task, assessments in other various TMJ muscle groups, and participants with pathological FHP conditions.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.23-34
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• 2022

Purpose : This study examined the effects of pain, neck dysfunction, psychosocial level, headache impact test (HIT), postural alignment, and trapezius muscle tone of the complex exercise program using dynamic taping in patients with tension headache and chronic neck pain with forward head posture. Methods : The design of this is a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Thirty-four patients with chronic neck pain were screened using a randomized assignment program and assigned to experimental group (n=17) and control group (n=17). Both groups underwent a complex exercise program. In addition, the experimental group dynamic taping was applied to the upper trapezius muscle. All interventions were applied three times per week for four weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS), the neck disability index (NDI), short form-12 health survey questionnaire (SF-12), Headache impact test-6 (HIT-6), Craniovertebral angle (CVA), Cranial rotation angle (CRA), upper trapezius muscle tone were compared to evaluate the effect on intervention. Results : Both groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention in VAS, NDI, SF-12, HIT-6, and CVA, CRA (p<.05). In addition, significant differences in NDI and upper trapezius muscle tone were observed between the experimental group and control group (p<.05). Conclusion : A complex exercise program using dynamic taping for patients with tension headache and chronic neck pain with forward head posture are effective method with clinical significance in improving the function and reducing upper trapezius muscle tone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.29-40
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• 2022

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an exercise program for the thoracic spine and scapula rather than the neck, which is the primary site of pain. METHODS: Thirty-two elementary school teachers with a forward head posture (FHP) were assigned randomly to either the experimental group (n = 16) or the control group (n = 16). The experimental group performed scapular stabilization exercise (SSE) and thoracic extension exercise (TEE), and the control group performed cervical self-myofascial release exercise and stretching exercise. The pulmonary functions, pain, craniovertebral angle (CVA), and cervical range of motion (CROM) were measured before the intervention and six weeks after. RESULTS: The within-group comparisons showed that the VAS and CROM (except for extension) in both groups were significantly different before and after the intervention (p < .05). The changes in the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 sec (FEV1), and CVA were significant only in the experimental group (p < .05). The between-group comparisons showed a significant difference in the FVC, FEV1, VAS, CVA, and left lateral flexion (p < .05). CONCLUSION: The combination of SSE and TEE in the experimental group was more effective in improving the FHP and breathing ability. Moreover, the experimental group and control combination appeared to be effective in reducing pain and improving the CROM. The combination of SSE and TEE, which are exercises that do not target the cervical spine directly, was effective in improving the posture, respiration, neck pain, and CROM in elementary school teachers with FHP.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2023

Forward head posture (FHP) is a musculoskeletal disorder that causes neck pain. Several exercise interventions have been used in South Korea to improve craniovertebral angle (CVA) and relieve neck pain. There has been no domestic literature review study over the past 5 years that has investigated trends and effects of exercise intervention methods for CVA with neck pain. This domestic literature review aimed to evaluate the trends and effects of exercise interventions on CVA and neck pain in persons with FHP. A review of domestic literature published in Korean or English language between 2018 and 2022 was performed. Literature search was conducted on Google Scholar and Korea Citation Index by using the following keywords: "exercise," "exercise therapy," "exercise program," "forward head posture," and "neck pain." Ten studies were included in this review. All of the studies showed positive improvements after intervention programs that included exercises. Notably, four of these studies demonstrated significant differences in results between the experimental and control groups. Among the 10 studies, nine measured visual analogue scale or numerical rating scale scores and reported significant reductions in pain following interventions, including exercise programs. Five of these studies showed significant differences in results between the experimental and control groups. Furthermore, six studies that used neck disability index exhibited a significant decrease in symptoms after implementing intervention programs that included exercise, and significant differences in results were found between the experimental and control groups. This domestic literature review provides consistent evidence to support the application of various exercise intervention programs to improve CVA and relieve neck pain from FHP. Further studies are warranted to review the effects of various exercise interventions on FHP reported not only in domestic but also in international literature.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.207-214
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• 1996

Main cause of low back pain is a poor posture. Most low back pains are due to a poor posture. The poor posture induces muscle tension and finaliy low back pain. The poor posture arehabitually trained from the childhood by the environmetal factors. In general, maintaining good posture during working and sleeping hours are the first line of defence against back pam. (1) Supine posture is the easiest posture that relaxes and fixes muscles. Supine posture is thus a starting position for on exercise. Lying down releases the weight pressures of head and shoulder and thus body can be relaxed and extended which are helpful for treating back pain. However, supine posture can increase the pressure in ribcage posture aspect and disphragram due to visceral oragans. (2) Sitting in one position for a long time results in fatigue and relaxation of spinal muscies. Finally, body strength is weakened and sitting posture will become poor. If this poor posture continues for a longer time, pain will be accompanied due to overelongation of muscle ligaments. The habitual poor posture could induce intervertebral disc distortion. If the intervertebral disc is damaged, sitting in one position or movement causes pain. (3) Abnormal lumbar curve induces the tention of abdominal muscle and paravertebral muscle groups as well as tention of lower limb muscle group connected to pelvis. For a person with weak body strength, muscle relaxation increases curvature in lumbar, chest and cervical regions. This will induce a pelvic anterior tilting of the imaginary line between A. S. I. S. and P. S. I. S. Hip joint extensor muscle acts on releasing the pelvic anterior tilting. Contrections of hamstring muscle and femoral muscle recover the imaginary line between A.S.LS. and P.S.I.S. from pelvic anterior tilting. thus, contraction of rectus abdominis muscle are required to maintain the normal lumbar curve.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.28 no.4 s.69
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• pp.499-515
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of head posture the position of the tongue or the hyoid bone to craniofacial structure. Cephalograms taken in Natural head position(NHP) of 90 dental students (50 in male, 40 in female, 20 to 30 years in age) were traced and measured using the extracranial true horizontal and vertical lines. The obtained results were as follows; 1. There was no sex difference in head posture, but the hyoid bone was placed anteroinferiorly in male more than in female and anteroinferior inclination of the hyoid bone showed greatly in male. 2. The more inclined was the cervical column, the less prognathic was the face in natural head posture, and the larger cervical curvature, the more vertical pattern of the face. 3. The less small showed craniocervical angulation, the more anteriorly placed was the hyoid bone to the cranial base, and there was no significantly association between craniocervical angulation and the vertical position of the hyoid bone. 4. The more prognathic was the mandible, the more anteriorly placed was the hyoid bone, and there was slightly association between the craniofacial morphology and the vertical position of the hyoid bone.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.81-90
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• 2017

This paper presents a smart seat for correction of driver posture while driving. We introduce good postures with seat height, seat angle, head height, back of knees, distances of foot pedals, tilt of seat, etc. There have been some studies on correction of good posture while driving, effects of driving environment on driver's posture, sitting strategies based on seating pressure distribution, estimation of driver's standard postures, and others. However, there are a few studies on guide of good postures while driving for problem of driver's posture using machine leaning. Therefore, we suggest a smart seat for correction of driver's posture based on machine leaning, 1) developed the system to get postures by 10 piezoelectric effect element, 2) collect piezoelectric values from 37 drivers and 28 types of cars, 3) suggest 4 types of good postures while driving, 4) analyze test postures by kNN. As the results, we can guide good postures for bad or problems of postures while driving.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.57-69
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• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the effects of neck and trunk combined exercise program and single exercise on neck angle and neck and shoulder muscle activity. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: In the single exercise group, the basic stretching, head bending and neck bending exercises were performed. The neck and trunk combined exercise group performed torso strength and trunk stability exercises to stabilize the trunk, and then performed the same neck exercise as the single exercise group. The exercise program was conducted 5 days per week for 2 weeks. One-way repeated ANOVA was used to investigate the statistical analysis of neck angle, neck and upper and middle trapezius muscle activity. Results: 1) There was no significant difference in neck angle degree after exercise in neck single exercise group. 2) In the neck and trunk combined exercise, the neck angle degree decreased continuously with the increase of the experimental period and showed a significant difference. 3) In the single exercise group, the muscles which showed significant difference compared to the post-exercise were the right upper, left and right middle trapezius. 4) In the neck and trunk combined exercise group, the right neck muscles showed significant difference after the exercise before the experiment. Conclusion: It was found that the neck and trunk combined exercise was more effective in reducing neck angle and the muscle activity of the subjects with forward head posture was decreased and increased. However, both exercises showed positive effects.