• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.117-124
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• 2002

Poor posture of the neck and head long been recognized as a factor contributing to the onset and perpetuation of pain in the head and neck region. The purposes of the study were to evaluate the changes in forward head posture and pressure pain threshold in tension type headache group and control group. Forward head posture were measured to craniovertebral angle and cranial rotation angle. Craniovertebral angle was smaller in tension type headache group(p<0.05), and cranial rotation angle was larger in tension type headache group(p<0.05). Pressure pain threshold was similar between tension type headache group and control group with the exception of right suboccipitalis and left temporalis(p<0.05).

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.378-382
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the effects of forward head posture on the flexion-relaxation ratio (FRR) and muscle activity during sustained neck flexion and to investigate the correlation between craniovertebral angle and FRR. Methods: Nineteen subjects participated in this study and were allocated to a forward head posture (FHP) group or a non-forward head posture (NFHP) group. Craniovertebral angle (CVA) and FRR were measured in all subjects, and all participants performed a standardized cervical flexion-extension movement in two phases: Phase I, sustained cervical full flexion for 5s; and Phase II, cervical extension with the return to the starting position for 5s. The value of CVA has calculated three times, and the value of FRR was measured three times in order to obtain the mean value. Results: FRR values in the FHP and NFHP group were significantly different (p<0.05). Phase I was significantly different, but the Phase II was not significantly different between the FHP and NFHP group (p>0.05). There was a significant correlation between the muscle activity of Phase I and CVA (p<0.05). However, FRR and the muscle activity of the Phase II were not a significant correlation with the CVA (p>0.05). Conclusion: FHP increases the muscle activity of the cervical erector spinae during sustained neck flexion and reduces FRR, which can cause fatigue in the cervical erector spinae. In addition, for those with a smaller CVA, muscle activity of the cervical erector spinae is increased during sustained neck flexion, which can increase neck muscle tension.

• Physical Therapy Korea
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.278-285
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• 2020

Background: Individuals with forward head posture (FHP) have neck pain. To correct the FHP, a posture correction band is commonly used. However, we do not know the posture correction band influenced the pulmonary function in individuals with FHP. Objects: This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the posture correction band on the pulmonary function in young adults with neck pain and FHP and to monitor how the pulmonary function changed over time. Methods: Twenty subjects with chronic neck pain and forward head posture were recruited. Subjects performed pulmonary function test four times: before, immediately, and 2 hours after wearing the postural band, and immediately after undressing the postural band. Vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory volume at one second (FEV1) were measured. The modified Borg dyspnea scale was used to measure each subject's responses to the posture correction band. The mixed-effect linear regression was used to the effect of the posture correction band over time. Results: There were no significant differences in VC, FVC, PEF, FEV1 values over time (p > 0.05), although all values slightly decreased after applying posture correction band. However, the score of the modified Borg scale significantly changed after wearing the postural bands (p < 0.05), indicating the subject felt discomfort with posture correction band during breathing. Conclusion: Because the posture correction band did not change the pulmonary function over time, but it induces psychological discomforts during breathing in people with FHP. Therefore, this posture correction band can be used for FHP realignment after discussion with the subjects.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.265-272
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• 2019

Purpose : Excessive computer use frequently results in musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and shoulder such as forward head posture (FHP). The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of neck and shoulder exercise program on spino-pelvic alignment and the correlation between change in head and neck posture and spino-pelvic alignment in FHP. Methods : The study included 44 participants with FHP. The participants performed the exercise for correction of FHP 2-3 times a week for 4 weeks. We examined whole spine X-ray images in the lateral standing position with both arms crossed. We measured anterior head translation distance (AHT), craniovertebral angle (CVA), cervical lordosis (CL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbosacral lordosis (LSL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic tilt (PT), and pelvic incidence (PI) of the subjects. The association between change in AHT and each spino-pelvic parameter was also subjected to Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis. Results : There were statistically significant differences before and after exercise in the parameters of AHT, CVA, and SS (p<.05). Significant negative correlation was observed between the change in AHT and CVA (r=-.768, p<.001), and CL (r=-.388, p<.05). There was significant positive correlation between the change in AHT and SS (r=.328, p<.05), and PI (r=.333, p<.05). However, no significant correlation was observed in change in AHT with that of TK, LSL, and PT. Conclusion : Based on the above results, we conclude that there is a relationship between change in AHT, which is a parameter associated with forward displacement of the head, and that of CVA, CL, SS, and PI after exercise in cases of FHP.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1-9
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• 2003

The somatotype classification of this study was to manufacture well-fitted clothes for middle-aged women. The somatotype classification of the upper body of lateral view was based on previous studies, and 4 postures, straight posture, leaning back posture, bent forward posture, and swayback posture were selected for this study. The front of leaning back posture was longer and wider than that of straight posture, and its front neck depth was deeper. Its front interscye breadth was wider and back interscye breadth was narrower. S.N.P. B.P. front waistline length, waist front length, front diagonal length, chest shedder length, front waistline shoulder line length were longer, and S.N.P. scapular back waistline length, back length, back shoulder length, back diagonal length, shoulder line back waistline length were shorter. On the contrary, the front of bent forward posture was shorter and narrower than that of straight posture, and its back neck depth was deeper. The properties of swayback posture were similar to those of bent forward posture. Its front was shorter and narrower, but the results of front neck depth and back neck depth were like those of straight posture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2009

Purpose：The purpose of this study was to investigate of the change of the forward head posture(FHP) according to computer using time. Methods：Subjects were 30 male and 30 female. The factors of FHP were measured cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension angle according to computer using time. Change of FHP used to Digital Inclinometry(JTech, Dualer IQTM Dual Inclinometer). The data were collected by data logger(Logger Teknologi HB, Akarp, Sweden). Results：Cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension were increased according to computer using time(p<.05). But cranial vertical angle and cranial rotation angle, and head, upper back, neck flexion/extension were not significant differences between male and female group(p>.05). Conclusion：The effects of cranial vertical angle, cranial rotation angl and head, neck and upper back angle depend on the computer task time. Increased of FHP may result increased tension in posture muscles of cervical spine, resulting in a risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

• 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 the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.468-474
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a horseback riding simulator, Slings and Kendall Exercise on a cranio-vertebral angle and the neck pain of the Forward Head Posture. This study included 30 young people with forward head posture. They were randomly divided into three groups. Each group performed the exercises for six weeks three times a week from September 2018 to November 2018. The variations of cranio-vertebral angle and neck pain were analyzed using paired t-tests and a one-way ANOVA test. The results of the study are as follows. Three groups showed significant variations of cranio-vertebral angle and neck pain (p < 0.05). But comparison of cranio-vertebral angle and neck pain between the groups showed no significant difference (p > 0.05). This study found that each exercise group for forward head posture was effective for inducing normal cervical alignment and neck pain relief. Therefore, various exercises can improve the forward head posture.

• 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.