• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• 제21권2호
• /
• pp.71-77
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This study assessed the differences in the forward head posture (FHP), cervical range of motion, and headache clinical parameters in episodic tension-type headache (ETTH) subjects, chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) subjects, and healthy controls (university students). Methods: Fifteen CTTH subjects, 15 ETTH subjects and 15 controls without headache were examined. Side-view images of each group were taken in both the sitting and standing positions, in order to assess the FHP by measuring the craniovertebral angle. The CROM was used to measure the cervical range of motion. A headache diary was kept for 4 weeks to assess the headache intensity, frequency, and duration. Results: The craniovertebral angle was smaller, ie, there was a greater FHP, in the CTTH and ETTH subjects than in the healthy controls in both the sitting and standing positions (p<0.05). The CTTH and ETTH subjects showed a lower cervical range of motion than the healthy controls in the total range of motion as well as in the half-cycles (p<0.05). Conclusion: The increased FHP and decreased cervical range of motion might be a contributing factor in the initiation of tension-type headache.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• 제18권1호
• /
• pp.45-53
• /
• 2020

Purpose: This study investigated the correlation between standing balance and head-forward posture in adolescents. Methods: The participants in this study were 15 female adolescents. We took photographs of the participants' craniovertebral angle with a digital camera to determine the degree of head-forward posture. Standing balance was evaluated using the 30-second Romberg test of BT4. The measurements were taken on a stable-support surface and on an unstable-support surface using a balance pad. The data measured in this study were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, and the statistical significance level α was established as 0.05. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis was performed to identify the correlation between the degree of head-forward position of the participants and their balance ability. Results: When we measured 30 seconds of the Romberg test, we observed that, with their eyes open, the participants' head-forward posture and balance were not correlated. However, with their eyes closed, there was a strong correlation between the forward position of the head and the balance ability, which declined as the head position increased. Conclusion: Adolescents with severe head-forward posture exhibited problems with balance in posture control with closed eyes when visual information was not available. It can be inferred that an abnormality occurs in proprioceptor sensation due to their habitual head-forward posture. Education on correct posture and preventive activities should be recommended to improve the health of such adolescents and avoid possible future problems of physical deterioration.

• 정형스포츠물리치료학회지
• /
• 제14권2호
• /
• pp.17-24
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between forward head posture and pulmonary function in young women. Methods: Thirty-three young women participated in this study. The participants were grouped into non-forward head posture, mild forward head posture, and moderate-severe forward head posture groups. The craniovertebral angle (CVA) and pulmonary function were measured using ImageJ and a spirometer, respectively. Results: Statistically significant differences in the participants' forced expiratory volume for one second (FEV1) and predicted forced expiratory volume for one second (predicted FEV1) were found among the three groups. No statistically significant differences in the participants' forced vital capacity (FVC), predicted forced vital capacity (predicted FVC), FEV1/FVC, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were found among the three groups. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between CVA and FVC and among the predicted FVC, FEV1, and predicted FEV1. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that severe forward head posture has a negative effect on pulmonary function in young women.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• 제33권3호
• /
• pp.148-154
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study covered the effect of shoulder stabilization exercise on muscle activity, postural alignment and self-efficacy of the elderly people with round shoulders by visiting village hall in rural area. Methods: 40 elderly people with round shoulders were recruited for this study (experimental group: 20 subjects and control group: 20 subjects). The experimental group was asked to perform shoulder stabilization exercise 60 minutes per one time for 8 weeks and three times in a week and the control group was asked to receive education related to pain management for the initial one time. Before and after the experiment, we measured the subjects' muscle activity of upper trapezius, serratus anterior, infraspinatus, pectoralis major and the lower trapezius, then postural alignment of craniovertebral angle and round shoulder posture. In addition, self-efficacy is measured through the questionnaire. Results: Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed significant differences in the muscle activity of all muscles, posture alignment of the craniovertebral angle. round shoulder posture, and improvement of self-efficacy. Conclusion: We found that shoulder stabilization exercise is effective in muscle activity, postural alignment and self-efficacy of the elderly people through visit-rehabilitation service. This study can be used for improving the physical and mental abilities through active visit-rehabilitation service for areas where have poor medical benefits. It is considered that systematic visit rehabilitation service should have institutional framework ultimately.

• PNF and Movement
• /
• 제15권2호
• /
• pp.149-157
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of using smartphones for tele-rehabilitation on head position and neck dysfunction in workers with visual display terminal (VDT) syndromes over a four-week period. Methods: Sixteen VDT workers volunteered to participate in stretch exercise and posture education sessions. The subjects were divided into three groups as follows: five subjects in the visit group (VSG), six subjects in the video group (VEG), and five subjects in tele-rehabilitation group (TG). The subjects in all the groups performed the exercises three days per week for four weeks. Cranial rotation angle (CRA), craniovertebral angle (CVA) measurement, and neck disability index (NDI) tests were performed before and four weeks after the intervention. Results: No significant difference in the CRA and CVA variables was found among groups. No significant difference in the CRA variable was found within each group. A significant difference in the CRA variable was found in the VSG after the four-week intervention. No significant difference in NDI was found among the groups. The NDIs among all the groups were significantly decreased after the intervention when compared with the NDIs measured before the intervention. Conclusion: The use of smartphones in the tele-rehabilitation of VDT workers with neck pain was found to be as effective on neck function as the conventional intervention method. The tele-rehabilitation of VDT workers with neck dysfunctions may be presented as an alternative way.

• 한국전문물리치료학회지
• /
• 제27권3호
• /
• pp.185-190
• /
• 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.

• 융합정보논문지
• /
• 제9권12호
• /
• pp.208-215
• /
• 2019

본 연구는 깊은목굽힘근운동과 등뼈 관절가동운동이 뇌졸중 환자의 통증, 전방머리자세에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 한다. 연구대상자는 36명은 사전측정 후 무작위로 깊은목굽힘근군(DNFE), 등뼈 관절가동운동군(TROM), 대조군으로 각각 12명씩 배정되었다. 중재 전후에 통증(VAS), 두개척추각도(CVA), 두개회전각도(CRA), 전방머리내밈자세(FHP), 등뼈관절가동범위(TROM)를 측정하였다. 그 결과. DNFE 군과 TROM 군은 중재 전후 VAS, CVA, CRA, FHP, TROM에서 유의한 차이를 보였으며(p<.05), 두 군은 대조군에 비해 VAS, CVA, CRA, FHP, TROM에서 보였다(p<.05). 결론적으로 깊은목굽힘근운동과 등뼈 가동범위운동이 뇌졸중 환자의 전방머리자세와 목통증 회복에 효과적이었다. 그러므로 임상에서 뇌졸중 환자 중재프로그램에 깊은목굽힘근운동과 등뼈 가동범위운동을 적극적으로 활용되기를 바란다.

• 국제물리치료학회지
• /
• 제11권3호
• /
• pp.2119-2125
• /
• 2020

Background: Adults with forward head posture (FHP) often suffer from thoracic hyperkyphosis and thoracic dysfunction, and including reduction of the craniovertebral angle (CV angle) and tightening of the superficial neck muscles. In order to treat thoracic dysfunction, interventions aimed at improving thoracic mobility are necessary. Objectives: To examine the effects of maitland manual mobilization therapy on the thoracic spine in adults with FHP. Design: Single-blind randomized controlled trial. Methods: Thirty adults with FHP who met the selection criteria were randomized to the thoracic multiple joint mobilization (TMJM; n=15) group and the thoracic general joint mobilization (TGJM; n=15) group. Joint mobilizations were performed for 23 minutes a day for 4 weeks continuously, two times per week. Outcome measures were ImageJ, BTS FREE EMG 1000, neck disability Index (NDI). Results: Although changes in the left sternocleidomastoid muscle activity and NDI scores over time between the two groups differed, other variables were noted only changes observed over time. Muscle activity in the right sternocleidomastoid increased again in the TGJM group post-intervention and 2 weeks after the end of the experiment, but changes in other variables were retained or improved, confirming the lasting effects of thoracic joint mobilization. Conclusion: Thoracic multiple joint mobilization may be recommended as a more effective intervention for adults with FHP.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.147-155
• /
• 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.

• 정형스포츠물리치료학회지
• /
• 제14권2호
• /
• pp.33-44
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical stabilization exercise (CSE) on hamstring flexibility in patients with neck pain. A secondary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cervical range of motion (CROM) and craniovertebral angle (CVA). Methods: This study was a single-blind, randomized, comparative trial. Twenty patients were allocated into either the cranio-cervical flexion exercise (CCFE) group or the CSE group. Before and after the intervention, we measured straight leg raise (SLR), popliteal angle (PA), CROM, and CVA in the sitting and standing positions. Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney test, and Wilcoxon's signed-rank test were used to analyze our data. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in the value of SLR, PA, cervical extension, cervical rotation, and CVA in the standing position (both, p<.05) after intervention. However, only the CSE group showed significant improvements in cervical right lateral flexion (z=-2.209; p<.01) and cervical left lateral flexion (z=-2.537; p<.05) after intervention. The CSF group showed more significant improvements in SLR, PA, both cervical lateral flexions, and both cervical rotations than the CCFE group. Conclusions: The results of this study will guide future research in identifying the effectiveness of CSE. In conclusion, it can be inferred that CSE has a positive effect on SLR, PA, CROM, and CVA in the standing position in patients with chronic neck pain.