• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of posture improvement exercise using virtual reality programs on the posture and balance of patients with forward head postures. METHODS: Thirty men and women in their 20 s, who had a forward head posture, were divided randomly into a group with posture correction exercise and a group with posture correction exercise combined with virtual reality programs. The posture correction exercise was composed of squats, XCO training, and chin-tuck exercise. In contrast, exercise with virtual reality games involved the Hot Squat, Climbey, and Baskhead programs while wearing a headset. Both groups performed the exercises 15 min a day, three times per week, for four weeks. The balance ability, distance between the acromion and earlobe, and neck joint range of motion were assessed before and after the exercises. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant reductions in the distance between the acromion and the earlobe, along with significant improvements in the range of joint motion. The group that performed the virtual reality exercises showed a significant increase in the limit of stability. Both groups showed a significant decrease in the sway length. In contrast, the group given the virtual reality exercises showed a significant reduction in the sway speed while standing with their eyes closed. CONCLUSION: Exercise applying virtual reality programs can be used in clinical and home programs to correct the postures of individuals with a forward head posture because they can trigger interest in inducing active participation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.19-26
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• 2016

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of correction on posture parameters between a horse riding simulator exercise and a conventional exercise occurring in an open linear chain linking the head to the pelvis in the sagittal plane of young adults with a forward head posture. METHODS: In this study, 30 subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 15 subjects each, were assigned to the horse riding simulator exercise or the neck exercise group and they performed exercise 30 minutes per each round two times a week for six weeks. To determine the subjects' forward head posture, the three angles and three distances were measured. RESULTS: The forward head angle and head distance results showed a significant change between pre and post intervention in both group. The horizontal distance between acromion and tragus results showed a significant change between pre and post intervention in neck exercise group (CG), but no significant change in horse riding simulator exercise group (EG). The averages of each measured values of EG and CG before and after were compared, but there are no significant different between groups. CONCLUSION: Although the effects of the horse riding exercise were lower than those elicited by the neck exercise, the results demonstrated that the horse riding simulator exercise improved posture alignment for subjects with forward head posture. Therefore, the horse riding simulator exercise can constitute an appropriate alternative exercise for subjects with forward head posture.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.1862-1867
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• 2019

Background: The importance of postural stabilization and cervical mobilization in subjects with pain from the anterior head posture is drawing more attention. However, studies on head and neck stabilizing intervention after mobilization are lacking. Objective: To examine the effects of Kinesiotaping and posture setting exercise on forward head posture (FHP). Design: Crossover Study Design Methods: The subjects were 17 male and female college students in their 20s with FHP. They were randomized into the Kinesiology taping group (KTG) with 9 subjects and posture stabilizing exercise group (PSEG) with 8 subjects. The intervention was conducted for 4 weeks, and changes in pain, craniovertebral angle (CVA), and proprioception were observed before and after intervention. Results: Pain was significantly reduced in the KTG and PSEG both before and after intervention. CVA and proprioception were significantly increased only in the PSEG. The differences in CVA and proprioception between the two groups were significant. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the application of posture setting exercise could decrease pain, proprioceptive error and increase CVA on FHP.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2016

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of exercise on the neck muscles activities between scapular stability and McKenzie stretch exercise in the forward head posture subjects. Method : After measuring cervical alignment using the Global Posture System, 20 volunteers with forward head posture posture were selected and divided into two groups. The experimental group A(n=15) and Experimental group B(n=15) participated in respectively and McKenzie neck stretching exercise, three times per week for 4 weeks. The scapular stabilization exercise program was comprised middle and lower trapezius strength exercises and the stretching exercise program was comprised levator scapulae and upper trapezius stretching exercise. The activities of the muscles of the posterior neck was then measured using electromyography. Result : After the intervention, there was significant difference of a electromyography activity changes between the pre-test and post-test in the experimental group. Conclusion : This study showed that both scapular stabilization and McKenzie neck stretching exercises are more effective for reducing neck muscles activities.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Graphics Society
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.79-86
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• 2020

It is important to exercise in the correct posture in order to increase the exercise effect of the core exercise. This paper introduces a system that can train an exercise posture by providing feedback so that a user who performs core exercise in a virtual reality environment can take an accurate posture. It targeted three core movement postures, such as squat, lunge, and bridge, and provides visual feedback and haptic feedback to the user to take an accurate posture. The reference posture is generated by adjusting the expert's posture to the user's body length, and the accuracy of the exercise posture is calculated by comparing the user's posture with the reference posture. The effectiveness of the feedback was verified through user experiments, and the training effects according to the design of the feedback were compared.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-155
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• 2021

Objective: This study is to investigate the effect of real-time feedback from the therapist on posture, muscle strength, pain of subjects with forward head posture based on a non-face-to-face complex exercise program. Design: Two-group pretest-posttest design. Methods: Thirty healthy men and women in their twenties with forward head posture with a Craniovertebral angle of 52° or less were targeted, the final selection was made as 15 experimental groups who performed the non-face-to-face intervention program while receiving real-time feedback and 15 control subjects who performed the non-face-to-face intervention program without providing feedback. Six of them were eliminated, and a total of 24 were conducted as subjects. All exercise groups performed an exercise program three times a week, 30 minutes each, for a total of two weeks. Before and after exercise, Craniovertebral angle (CVA), CranioRotation angle (CRA), muscle strength, and tenderness threshold were evaluated. Results: Significant differences were shown in both groups in CVA, and tenderness threshold before and after exercise (p<0.05), and CRA, the left middle trapezius muscle strength, only in the experimental group (p<0.05). In the comparison of theamount of change between exercise groups, the group that received feedback on CVA, CRA and tenderness threshold showed a significant change than the group without feedback (p<0.05). Conclusions: As a result of this study, it can be seen that the therapist's real-time feedback is more effective in improving the forward head posture. This requires feedback from the therapist on posture correction during non-face-to-face exercise intervention.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.292-296
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• 2016

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of modified cervical exercise on respiratory functions in smartphone users with forward head posture. Methods: Thirty-three smartphone users with forward head posture participated in this study. Subjects were divided into three groups that performed modified cervical exercise one time a day (A group), two times a day (B group), and three times a day (C group). All subjects performed the exercise for four weeks, during which time respiratory functions were measured. Results: There were significant differences in respiratory functions such as forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, and maximal voluntary ventilation in the C group after four weeks (p<0.05). Moreover, the forced vital capacity differed among groups, and the post hoc test revealed a significant difference between A group and C group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study confirmed that modified cervical exercise improved respiratory functions in smartphone users with forward head posture. These findings indicate that smartphone users with forward head posture should perform modified cervical exercise to build correct posture and respiratory functions.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1960-1968
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• 2020

Background: The alignment of the neck and shoulder is important in people with forward head posture. However, previous studies have mainly conducted fragmentary studies on the neck and shoulders, and studies on the combined movement of the neck and shoulders are incomplete. Objective: To investigate the effects of 6 week dynamic exercise program using Thera-band on craniovertebral angle (CVA) in adults with forward head posture. Design: Quasi-experimental study. Methods: The study was conducted on 24 adults with forward head posture and experimented with neck and shoulder exercises and divided them into groups of neck exercises, shoulder exercises, and neck and shoulder exercises to measure CVA values before and after the experiment. The neck exercise program included flexion and extension muscles of the neck and shoulder exercises included dynamic exercise of the upper extremities such as the trapezius muscles and serratus anterior muscle. The CVA results were measured using PA200. Results: Following the interventions, neck exercise group showed significant improvement in CVA (P<.05), but shoulder exercise group and combined exercise group did not show any significant results (P>.05). However, both groups showed some positive results. Significant differences were seen in the comparisons between the three groups (P<.05), and the results of the post-hoc test showed significant differences in neck exercise group and shoulder exercise, neck exercise and combine exercise group. Conclusion: This study suggested that the Thera-band neck exercise is beneficial for foward head posture patients and is expected to be used in clinical trials.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.15-20
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• 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of sling exercise on the cervical lordotic angle, craniovertebral angle, and head rotation angle among adolescents in the forward head posture. Methods: The subjects include 22 adolescents that recorded a mild level or higher on the posture evaluation index by New York State. They were randomly divided to the hand exercise group (n=11) and the control group (n=11). The former group participated in the sling exercise program three times a week over four weeks in total with each session lasting 60 minutes, whereas the latter group was not included in the program. The cervical lordotic angle, craniovertebral angle, and head rotation angle were measured before and after the intervention. Results: The study compared the cervical lordotic angle between the two groups before and after sling exercise and found that the sling exercise group made an increase of $7.36^{\circ}$ from $21.91^{\circ}$ to $29.27^{\circ}$ after the intervention(p<.05). As for the comparison results of the craniovertebral angle, the sling exercise group made an increase of $5.64^{\circ}$ from $48.91^{\circ}$ to $54.55^{\circ}$ after the intervention (p<.05). As for the comparison results of the cranial-rotation angle, the sling exercise group made an decrease of $-7.73^{\circ}$ from $148.82^{\circ}$ to $141.09^{\circ}$ after the intervention (p<.05). The control group showed no differences before and after the intervention (p>.05). Conclusion: Those findings indicate that the application of sling exercise in the forward head posture can be a good program to maintain the right posture and improve or prevent an abnormal posture and raise a need for more clinical applications and ongoing researches.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.135-144
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• 2021

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 2 weeks of backward walking exercise (BWE) on cervical angle and gait parameters in college students with forward head posture. Methods : Fifteen subjects participated in the experiment. All the participants had a craniovertebral angle (CVA) of 55 degrees or less. The purpose of the study was explained to all the subjects prior to participation, and volunteered to take part in the study. A camera capable of taking pictures of the lateral plane was installed at a distance of 1.5 meters from each subject. Images of forward head posture were obtained before and after performing the BWE, and the CVA and craniorotational angle (CRA) were compared pre- versus post exercise. Foot pressure and gait parameters (step length of left and right, stride length, stance of left and right, swing of left and right, step time of left and right, and stride time) were measured using a rehabilitation treadmill. The subjects performed the BWE for 2 weeks. The exercise program consisted of a 5-minute warm-up exercise, 20-minute main exercise, and 5-minute cool-down exercise. In the main exercise, the treadmill speed was set to 2.4 km/h in the first week and 3.4 km/h in the second week. A paired t test was used to compare the CVA and CRA and gait parameters before and after the exercise. Results : Comparison of the CVA and CRA before and after the BWE revealed a significant difference post exercise, with a marked improvement in forward head posture after the exercise (p<.05). Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, the BWE is considered to be an effective exercise for the forward head posture. Also, additional research is needed to shed light on the impact of the BWE on gait parameters.