Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT05619094

Effects of Exercise on Alignment and Muscle Parameters in Forward Head Posture

It is aimed to investigate the effect of corrective exercise program on alignment, muscle activation and biomechanical properties of muscles in medical students with forward head posture.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Forward Head Posture Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

20 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Cukurova University

Adana, 01330, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Forward head posture (FHP) is a common postural abnormality that can be seen in all age groups. It is characterized by the head position being forward relative to the neck in the sagittal plane. The anterior displacement of the head is mainly assessed through examination of the craniovertebral angle (CVA) and a CVA of ˂50° is described as a FHP. Therapeutic exercises have shown to be effective in FHP and related symptoms in many studies. One of the exercise programs applied is the corrective exercise program. Within the scope of this program, deep cervical flexor muscles and shoulder retractors are strengthened, cervical extensors and pectoral muscles are stretched. This exercise protocol has been reported to provide relief in neck pain, improvement in CVA and shoulder angle. However, the number of studies examining the effect of corrective exercise program for the affected muscle groups in FHP on muscle activation parameters is limited, and there is no study examining the effect on the biomechanical properties of the muscles.

In this study, it is aimed to investigate the effect of corrective exercise program on alignment, muscle activation and biomechanical properties of muscles in medical students with forward head posture.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Medical students with a Craniovertebral angle ˂ 50°

Exclusion criteria

  • History of chronic pain in cervical region
  • Presence of spinal deformity and malalignment
  • Disease, fracture or surgery affecting the spine-shoulder-pelvic region
  • Presence of malignancy
  • BMI outside the normal range
  • Presence of medical condition that prevents participation in physical exercise program
  • Presence of neuromuscular disease
  • Involvement in regular and professional sports activities

Treatment and study plan

Corrective exercise program

Other

Strengthening exercises for deep cervical flexor muscles and shoulder retractors.

Stretching exercises for cervical extensors and pectoral muscles.

Primary outcomes

  1. Craniovertebral angle

    Time frame: Day 0

    The angle between the line connecting the seventh cervical vertebra and the tragus of right ear, and the horizontal line.

    running in the sagittal place through the C7 process

  2. Craniovertebral angle

    Time frame: Week 8

    The angle between the line connecting the seventh cervical vertebra and the tragus of right ear, and the horizontal line.

    running in the sagittal place through the C7 process

Secondary outcomes

  1. Surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude (RMS)

    Time frame: Day 0

    The activity levels of trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis muscles will be measured with a wireless EMG system (Delsys, Inc, Boston, MA). The electrodes will be positioned on the belly of the muscle. The signals will be amplified and band-pass filtered (20-450 Hz) before being record digitally at 2000 samples per second, and then the root mean square (RMS) will be calculated. To normalize individual muscle contraction levels, we will use maneuvers of voluntary contractions.

  2. Surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude (RMS)

    Time frame: Week 8

    The activity levels of trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis muscles will be measured with a wireless EMG system (Delsys, Inc, Boston, MA). The electrodes will be positioned on the belly of the muscle. The signals will be amplified and band-pass filtered (20-450 Hz) before being record digitally at 2000 samples per second, and then the root mean square (RMS) will be calculated. To normalize individual muscle contraction levels, we will use maneuvers of voluntary contractions.

  3. Myotonometer measures (Muscle tone)

    Time frame: Day 0

    The state of tension and biomechanical properties will be measured with a hand-held device (MyotonPro®, Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). MyotonPro® displays the muscle mechanical properties by analyzing the oscillations of the myofascial tissue in response to the 10 short (15 ms) impulses, at 0.56 Newton (N) force and frequency of 1Hertz (Hz) applied by the probe of the device.

    The superficial muscles (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis muscle) will be evaluated.

    The device measures (computes simultaneously) the following parameters: Oscillation frequency (Hz), dynamic stiffness (N/m) and logarithmic decrement.

    Oscillation Frequency [Hz]: Characterizes the tone (intrinsic tension) of a muscle in its passive or resting state.

  4. Myotonometer measures (Muscle stiffness)

    Time frame: Day 0

    The state of tension and biomechanical properties will be measured with a hand-held device (MyotonPro®, Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). MyotonPro® displays the muscle mechanical properties by analyzing the oscillations of the myofascial tissue in response to the 10 short (15 ms) impulses, at 0.56 N force and frequency of 1Hz applied by the probe of the device.

    The superficial muscles (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis muscle) will be evaluated.

    The device measures (computes simultaneously) the following parameters: Oscillation frequency (Hz), dynamic stiffness (N/m) and logarithmic decrement.

    Dynamic Stiffness [N/m]: Characterises the resistance to a contraction or to an external force that deforms its initial shape.

  5. Myotonometer measures (Muscle elasticity)

    Time frame: Day 0

    The state of tension and biomechanical properties will be measured with a hand-held device (MyotonPro®, Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). MyotonPro® displays the muscle mechanical properties by analyzing the oscillations of the myofascial tissue in response to the 10 short (15 ms) impulses, at 0.56 N force and frequency of 1Hz applied by the probe of the device.

    The superficial muscles (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis muscle) will be evaluated.

    The device measures (computes simultaneously) the following parameters: Oscillation frequency (Hz), dynamic stiffness (N/m) and logarithmic decrement.

    Logarithmic Decrement: Characterises elasticity.

  6. Myotonometer measures (Muscle tone)

    Time frame: Week 8

    The state of tension and biomechanical properties will be measured with a hand-held device (MyotonPro®, Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). MyotonPro® displays the muscle mechanical properties by analyzing the oscillations of the myofascial tissue in response to the 10 short (15 ms) impulses, at 0.56 N force and frequency of 1Hz applied by the probe of the device.

    The superficial muscles (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis muscle) will be evaluated.

    The device measures (computes simultaneously) the following parameters: Oscillation frequency (Hz), dynamic stiffness (N/m) and logarithmic decrement.

    Ossilation Frequency [Hz]: Characterises the tone (intrinsic tension) of a muscle in its passive or resting state.

  7. Myotonometer measures (Muscle stiffness)

    Time frame: Week 8

    The state of tension and biomechanical properties will be measured with a hand-held device (MyotonPro®, Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). MyotonPro® displays the muscle mechanical properties by analyzing the oscillations of the myofascial tissue in response to the 10 short (15 ms) impulses, at 0.56 N force and frequency of 1Hz applied by the probe of the device.

    The superficial muscles (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis muscle) will be evaluated.

    The device measures (computes simultaneously) the following parameters: Oscillation frequency (Hz), dynamic stiffness (N/m) and logarithmic decrement.

    Dynamic Stiffness [N/m]: Characterises the resistance to a contraction or to an external force that deforms its initial shape.

  8. Myotonometer measures (Muscle elasticity)

    Time frame: Week 8

    The state of tension and biomechanical properties will be measured with a hand-held device (MyotonPro®, Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia). MyotonPro® displays the muscle mechanical properties by analyzing the oscillations of the myofascial tissue in response to the 10 short (15 ms) impulses, at 0.56 N and frequency of 1Hz applied by the probe of the device.

    The superficial muscles (trapezius, sternocleidomastoid and pectoralis muscle) will be evaluated.

    The device measures (computes simultaneously) the following parameters: Oscillation frequency (Hz), dynamic stiffness (N/m) and logarithmic decrement.

    Logarithmic Decrement: Characterises elasticity.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Cukurova University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effectiveness of Corrective Exercise Program on Alignment, Muscle Activation and Biomechanical Properties in Medical Students With Forward Head Posture

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2023
First posted
Nov 16, 2022
Registry last updated
Nov 28, 2023

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.