Forward Head Posture in Young Adults: A Systematic Review (original) (raw)
Related papers
The study of correlation between forward head posture and neck pain in Iranian office workers
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 2015
Objectives: Factors such as prolonged sitting at work or improper posture of head during work may have a great role in neck pain occurrence among office employees, particularly among those who work with computers. Although some studies claim a significant difference in head posture between patients and pain-free participants, in literature the forward head posture (FHP) has not always been associated with neck pain. Since head, cervical and thoracic postures and their relation with neck pain has not been studied in Iranian office employees, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between some work-related and individual factors, such as poor posture, with neck pain in the office employees. Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional correlation study carried out to explore the relationship between neck pain and sagittal postures of cervical and thoracic spine among office employees in forward looking position and also in a working position. Forty-six subjects without neck pain and 55 with neck pain were examined using a photographic method. Thoracic and cervical postures were measured using the high thoracic (HT) and craniovertebral (CV) angles, respectively. Results: High thoracic and CV angles were positively correlated with the presence of neck pain only in working position (p < 0.05). In forward looking position, there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings have revealed that office employees had a defective posture while working and that the improper posture was more severe in the office employees who suffered from the neck pain.
2014
Background Office workers spend a long period of time behind a computer during working hours. The relation between the posture of sitting during work with computer and neck pain is still debatable. Even though some researchers claim a significant difference in head posture between patients with neck pain and pain-free participants, the FHP (forward head posture) has not always been associated with neck pain in literature. So, the purpose of this study was to discover the relationship between neck pain and improper posture in the head, cervicothoracic spine and shoulders. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study to explore the relationships between neck pains, sagittal postures of cervical and thoracic spine and shoulders among office workers in two positions, straight looking forward and working position. 46 subjects without neck pain and 55 subjects with neck pain were evaluated using a photographic method. Thoracic and cervical postures were measured by the HT (High Thoracic), CV...
Relationship of Forward Head Posture and Cervical Backward Bending to Neck Pain
Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, 1995
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of forward head posture and cervical backward bending to neck pain. The subjects were fifty-four volunteer office workers, who spent at least four hours of their work day at a computer terminal (17 males and 37 females). Since all subjects reported having pain, the subjects who reported pain in four areas or more were considered the case group and those who reported pain in three areas or less were considered the control group. Measurements of forward head posture and cervical backward bending in both the natural sitting position and the erect sitting position were recorded by the Cervical Range of Motion Instrument (CROM). The results showed that compared to the control group, the case group subjects had more pain over the past thirty days, visited medical professionals more frequently during the past twelve months, and when describing a typical day reported greater pain. Additionally, members of the case group had greater forward head posture and less cervical backward bending in the natural sitting position and the erect sitting position. The results of this study support the belief that a relationship of forward head posture and cervical backward bending to neck pain exists.
Journal Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences, 2016
Background: Craniovertebral angle is the landmark for assessment of head and neck postures. The angle is signicantly smaller in subjects with neck pain. The decrease in the values of Craniovertebral angle is associated with the greater incidence of forward head posture, and a greater level of disability among the subjects with neck pain. Objectives of Study: The purpose of the study was to measure and correlate Craniovertebral angle with the forward head posture in female university students and its association with level of disability. It was a Descriptive cross sectional study. Forward head posture was assessed in Methodology: female DPT students of Riphah International University who complaint of mild to moderate neck pain, they were asked to ll in Neck Disability Index Questionnaire and SF-36 Questionnaire. Goniometer was used to measure appropriate Craniovertebral angle, after seeking consent from students their side-view pictures were taken. The study took 6 months duration for its completion. The results showed that 50% (n=32) students with complaint of neck pain had slight Results: postural deformity having mild forward head posture (FHP) and fewer students, 3.1% (n= 2) had severe postural deformity. Neck Disability Index, showed that majority of students 48.8% (n=31) were lying in moderate level of disability .SF-36 (Energy & Fatigue) depicted that majority of students were having loss of energy and some fatigue, which is (31-70%). There was a positive association between Craniovertebral angle (photogrammetric values) and quality of life, Energy & Fatigue level of the subjects with a p value of 0.052, while no association was found between photogrammetric values and Neck Disability Index, with p value 0.487 in students. Conclusions: There is an association between the forward head posture and the prevalence of neck pain among students; also there quality of life is affected making them prone to develop severe postural problems in future.
2016
Background: Craniovertebral angle is the landmark for assessment of head and neck postures. The angle is signicantly smaller in subjects with neck pain. The decrease in the values of Craniovertebral angle is associated with the greater incidence of forward head posture, and a greater level of disability among the subjects with neck pain. Objectives of Study: The purpose of the study was to measure and correlate Craniovertebral angle with the forward head posture in female university students and its association with level of disability. Methodology: It was a Descriptive cross sectional study. Forward head posture was assessed in female DPT students of Riphah International University who complaint of mild to moderate neck pain, they were asked to ll in Neck Disability Index Questionnaire and SF-36 Questionnaire. Goniometer was used to measure appropriate Craniovertebral angle, after seeking consent from students their side-view pictures were taken. The study took 6 months duration ...
Somatosensory & motor research, 2018
The aims of this study are to investigate the association between: (i) forward head posture (FHP) and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs); (ii) FHP and maladaptive cognitive processes; and (iii) FHP and neck pain characteristics in university students with subclinical neck pain. A total of 140 university students, 90 asymptomatic and 50 with subclinical neck pain, entered the study. Demographic data, anthropometric data, FHP, and PPTs were collected for both groups. In addition, pain characteristics, pain catastrophizing, and fear of movement were assessed for participants with neck pain. FHP was characterized by the angle between C7, the tragus of the ear, and the horizontal line. Correlation analysis and multivariate regression analysis were conducted. Participants with subclinical neck pain showed significantly lower PPTs than participants without neck pain (p < .05), but similar FHP (p > .05). No significant association was found between FHP and PPTs in the asymptomatic group....
BMJ Open, 2022
IntroductionForward head posture (FHP) is the most common postural deviation of the upper back. It is believed to be one of the predisposing factors for the development of mechanical neck pain (MNP). We propose doing a systematic review to find the effectiveness of interventions targeted on FHP with MNP and assess implementation fidelity associated with these interventions.Methods and analysisMedline (PubMed), Web of Science (Social Science Citation Index), EMBASE, Scopus, PEDro and CINAHL databases will be searched for studies published in English from their inception. Forward and backward citations of the included studies will be investigated for identifying additional records. We will include randomised controlled trials and non/quasi-experimental studies with two groups assessing the effectiveness of interventions targeted on FHP with MNP. Observational studies, non-randomised studies with single group and reviews will be excluded. We will consider the following outcome measures...
Prevalence of Forward Head Posture Amongst Physiotherapy Students -A Cross Sectional Study
https://www.ijhsr.org/IJHSR\_Vol.12\_Issue.7\_July2022/IJHSR-Abstract.12.html, 2022
Background: Forward head posture (FHP) described as excessive anterior positioning of the head in relation to a vertical reference line, involving increased cervical spine lordosis (upper cervical spine extended, lower cervical spine flexed) and rounded shoulders with thoracic kyphosis in later stages. Prevalence of forward head posture is high amongst children and adolescents due to excessive use of mobile phones and laptops. But very less studies have been done in India amongst physiotherapy students though their work routine is in prolonged standing position with neck flexed. So, aim of the study is to study the prevalence of FHP amongst population and further progression of this postural abnormality can be prevented. Materials and methodology: 60 participants were recruited according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Craniovertebral angle were evaluated through photogrammetry method, through Surgimap. Results: In this study 60 students were evaluated, consisting of 40 females and 20 males. From 20 males, 12 males were identified as having FHP (60%), and the 40 females evaluated from that 30 females were identified as having forward FHP (75%). In this study the prevalence of total physiotherapy students identified having FHP is 42 out of 60, that is 70%. Conclusion: Present study shows that prevalence of FHP amongst physiotherapy population is 70%.
2017
Introduction: Headache is one of the prevalent health problems that impose huge costs on economy. One type of the headache is cervicogenic headache caused by bad posture of cervical spine. To know the effect of corrective exercises on cervical headache by improving range of motion in joints and retraining specific postural muscles like anterior and deep flexor muscles of the neck. Materials and Methods: Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 individuals were randomly selected and divided into two groups; control (medicine) and interventional (exercises) groups with 15 participants in each group. A validated digital camera (Cannon A95 PowerShot) was used to determine Forward Head Posture (FHP). The landmarks of the FHP were marked by using white 12-mm markers that included earlobe, C7 spinous process, and acromion process. Patients performed stretching, strengthening, and corrective exercises after receiving training. The obtained data were analyzed by ANCOVA, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: The average difference in the scores of cervical headache in the experimental group was less than that in the control group which was statistically significant (P<0.001). Mean difference in the scores of cervical pain duration among experimental group was less than the control group and this difference was statistically significant, too (P<0.05). Conclusion: Corrective exercises had shown statistically significant effects on neck disability index, neck pain as well as on the pain intensity, its duration and frequency among office workers with FHP.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2001
Objective-To study the relation between neck pain and work related neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting. Methods-A prospective cohort study was performed with a follow up of 3 years among 1334 workers from 34 companies. Work related physical load was assessed by analysing objectively measured exposure data (video recordings) of neck flexion, neck rotation, and sitting posture. Neck pain was assessed by a questionnaire. Adjustments were made for various physical factors that were related or not related to work, psychosocial factors, and individual characteristics. Results-A significant positive relation was found between the percentage of the working time in a sitting position and neck pain, implying an increased risk of neck pain for workers who were sitting for more than 95% of the working time (crude relative risk (RR) 2.01, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.04 to 3.88; adjusted RR 2.34, 95% CI 1.05 to 5.21). A trend for a positive relation between neck flexion and neck pain was found, suggesting an increased risk of neck pain for people working with the neck at a minimum of 20°of flexion for more than 70% of the working time (crude RR 2.01, 95% CI 0.98 to 4.11; adjusted RR 1.63, 95% CI 0.70 to 3.82). No clear relation was found between neck rotation and neck pain. Conclusion-Sitting at work for more than 95% of the working time seems to be a risk factor for neck pain and there is a trend for a positive relation between neck flexion and neck pain. No clear relation was found between neck rotation and neck pain.