Prevalence of Forward Head Posture and its Effect on Active Mouth Opening in Young Female Weightlifters

Background: To objectively assess the prevalence of forward head posture and its effect on active mouth opening. Material & Methods: Correlational study design. Setting – Subjects were selected from various gyms and fitness centers located in South Delhi. Subjects were selected for the study according to the following inclusion and exclusion criteria. Method of Sampling- Sample of convenience. Instrumentation / Tools/ Scales/ Outcome Measure- Markers, UTHSCSA Software version 3.0, Calibrated Ruler, Digi Cam; 16 Mega Pixel with stand, Laptop, Liquid Disinfectant, Calibrated Ruler to measure active mouth opening. Craniovertebral angle was measured using UTHSCSA Image tool program. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 20.0 version software. Descriptive statistics was used to compute means. The Pearson’s coefficient of correlation was used to examine the relationships between craniovertebral angle and active mouth opening. Results were considered significant at ‘p’ < 0.05. Results: The purpose of conducting this study was to find out the effect on active mouth opening in female weightlifters which was conducted on females performing weight lifting task in the gyms and fitness centers situated in South Delhi. It was observed that there was a statistically significant correlation with CV angle with active mouth opening. Conclusion: By the virtue of this study, we can conclude that our participant group of weightlifters had a below normal craniovertebral angle. The result demonstrated that there is a significant effect on active mouth opening.

Comparando o efeito da liberação miofascial e técnica de energia muscular no ângulo craniovertebral e cefaleia em pacientes com cefaleia tensional / Comparing the effect of myofascial release and muscle energy technique on craniovertebral angle and headache in tension-type headache patients

INTRODUÇÃO: Cefaleias tensionais podem ser induzidas pela postura da cabeça para frente, e há uma grande quantidade de evidências disponíveis para o manejo de cefaleias crônicas. Os dados corroboram uso de abordagens de terapia manual para gerenciar dores de cabeça do tipo tensional. Devido à postura anterior da cabeça, a região do músculo suboccipital torna-se curta, resultando em aumento da lordose e dor no pescoço. Pacientes com uma postura de cabeça ainda mais para frente têm um ângulo craniovertebral menor, o que, por sua vez, causa cefaleia do tipo tensional. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo é comparar os efeitos da terapia de liberação miofascial (LMF) e da técnica de energia muscular (TEM) com exercícios gerais do pescoço no ângulo crânio-vertebral e na cefaleia em pacientes com cefaleia do tipo tensional. MÉTODOS: No total, 75 indivíduos com cefaleia tensional e sensibilidade muscular suboccipital foram recrutados e randomizados cegamente em três grupos: o grupo LMF, o grupo TEM e o grupo controle (25 indivíduos em cada grupo). Um ângulo pré-crânio vertebral foi obtido por método fotográfico e um questionário de índice de incapacidade pré-cefaleia foi preenchido. O grupo LMF recebeu liberação crânio-basal na região suboccipital com exercícios de pescoço; o grupo TEM recebeu relaxamento pós-isométrico na região suboccipital com exercícios, e o grupo controle recebeu apenas exercícios por 2 semanas. Após duas semanas, o ângulo pós-craniano e o questionário de cefaleia foram coletados e medidos. RESULTADOS: O ângulo crânio-vertebral e o índice de cefaleia mostraram melhora significativa nos grupos TEM e LMF. Não houve diferença significativa quando os grupos TEM e LMF foram comparados. Quando comparados com o grupo controle, tanto o TEM quanto o LMF apresentaram aumento significativo do ângulo crânio-vertebral. Houve melhora significativa no índice de cefaleia após TEM, LMF ou exercício de rotina no pescoço. CONCLUSÃO: Comparado ao grupo controle, o LMF apresenta melhores resultados do que o TEM no ângulo crânio-vertebral e cefaleia.

INTRODUCTION: Tension headaches can be induced by forward head posture, and there is a wealth of evidence available for managing chronic headaches. The data support the use of manual therapy approaches to manage tension-type headaches. Because of the forward head posture, the suboccipital muscle region becomes short, resulting in an increase in lordosis and neck pain. Patients with an even more forward head posture have a smaller craniovertebral angle, which in turn causes tension-type headache. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the effects of Myofascial release therapy (MFR) and Muscle energy technique (MET) with general neck exercises on the craniovertebral angle and headache in tension-type headache patients. METHODS: In total, 75 subjects with tension-type headache and suboccipital muscle tenderness were recruited and randomized blindly into three groups: the MFR group, the MET group, and the control group (25 subjects in each group). A pre-craniovertebral angle was taken by photographic method, and a pre-headache disability index questionnaire was filled in. The MFR group receives cranio-basal release in the suboccipital region with neck exercises, the MET group receives post­isometric relaxation in the suboccipital region with exercises, and the control group receives only exercises for two weeks. After two weeks, the postcranial angle and the headache questionnaire were taken and measured. RESULTS: Craniovertebral angle and headache index showed significant improvement in both the MET and MFR groups. There was no significant difference when MET and MFR groups were compared. When compared with the control group, both MET and MFR showed a significant increase in craniovertebral angle. There was a significant improvement in the headache index following MET, MFR, or routine neck exercise. CONCLUSION: Compared to the control group, MFR shows better results than MET on craniovertebral angle and headache.

Efecto de un protocolo de entrenamiento de fuerza con característica socializadora sobre el ángulo cráneovertebral en adultos mayores / Effect of a strength training protocol with a socializing characteristic on the craniovertebral angle in older adults

OBJETIVO: El propósito del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de un protocolo de entrenamiento de fuerza con característica socializadora sobre el ángulo cráneovertebral en adultos mayores. MATERIAL MÉTODOS: El presente estudio tiene un diseño experimental, longitudinal, basado en la medición del ángulo cráneovertebral previo y posterior a la aplicación de un protocolo de entrenamiento de fuerza con característica socializadora de 4 meses. Se estudió a 3 grupos de 44 participantes elegidos al azar: dos grupos experimentales y un grupo control. A un grupo experimental se le realizó un protocolo de entrenamiento de fuerza convencional, al otro grupo experimental se le realizó el protocolo de entrenamiento de fuerza con característica socializadora y al grupo control, no se le aplicó entrenamiento. Los 132 participantes cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y exclusión: adultos mayores > 60 años, ángulo cráneovertebral < 50 grados, sin patologías de columna vertebral, reumatológicas, neurológicas y sistémicas. RESULTADOS: Hubo cambios estadísticamente significativos en el aumento del ángulo cráneovertebral en el grupo que realizó entrenamiento de fuerza convencional y en el grupo que realizó entrenamiento de fuerza con característica socializadora (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIÓN: El protocolo de entrenamiento de fuerza con característica socializadora aumentó en promedio 14,6 grados el ángulo cráneovertebral y fue un 21% más efectivo que el grupo que realizó entrenamiento de fuerza convencional en el aumento del ángulo cráneovertebral en adultos mayores.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of a strength training protocol with a socializing characteristic on the craniovertebral angle in older adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present study has an experimental, longitudinal design, based on the measurement of the craniovertebral angle before and after the application of a 4 month long strength training protocol with a socializing characteristic. Three groups of 44 randomly chosen participants were carried out: two experimental groups and a control group. A conventional strength training protocol was performed in one experimental group, the strength training protocol with a socializing characteristic was performed in the other experimental group, and no training was applied to the control group. The 132 participants fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria: older adults > 60 years, craniovertebral angle < 50 degrees, without spinal, rheumatic, neurological and systemic pathologies. RESULTS: There were statistically significant changes in the increase of the craniovertebral angle in the group that performed conventional strength training and in the group that performed strength training with a socializing characteristic (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: The strength training protocol with socializing characteristic increased the craniovertebral angle by an average of 14.6 degrees and was 21% more effective than the group that performed conventional resistance training in increasing the craniovertebral angle in older adults.

Effectiveness Of Cervical Stabilization Exercises With Feedback On Respiratory Status In Chronic Neck Pain Patients With Forward Head Posture

Background: Chronic neck pain is observed to be commonly kindred with forward head posture (FHP). Rib cage mechanics is found to be altered that decreases thoracic mobility. This reduced mobility of thorax reduces the effectiveness of diaphragm, intercostals, and abdominal muscles in terms of ventilation. Therefore this study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of exercises meant for enhancing the stability of the neck with feedback on neck stabilization exercises with feedback in improving the respiratory status. Methods: This was an experimental study. Based on inclusion & exclusion criteria, 100 subjects (54 males and 46 females) enrolled for the study, which was further allotted into Experimental and Control groups. The experimental group was given Cervical Stabilization Exercise with feedback in addition to routine Physiotherapy treatment. Control group was given only regular Physiotherapy treatment for six weeks. The digital camera assessed the FHP by measuring of Craniovertebral Angle (CVA). Spirometry assessed pulmonary function (FEV1) and Micro RPM assessed inspiratory muscle strength (PImax). All measurements were taken on the day of study, on 3rd and 6th week Results: Significant reduction in forward head posture measured by improvement in Craniovertebral angle, improvement in Inspiratory muscle strength (PIMax) and pulmonary functions (FEV1) were found in the group that received cervical stabilization exercises with feedback along with the conventional Physiotherapy (p< 0.05). Therefore it is suggested that cervical stabilization exercises correct the head posture and helps to improve the biomechanics of respiratory muscles. Conclusion: Cervical stabilization exercise is an effective approach to correct the forward head posture, and it should be included in the intervention measures of patients with forward head posture.

The Effects Of Smartphone Addiction On Childrens Cervical Posture And Range Of Motion

Background: This study examined the effects of smartphones addiction on cervical posture, and compared the cervical range of motion (ROM) between addicted and non-addicted boys and girls 8 to 13 years of age. Methods: Twenty-four boys and 26 girls were assigned to 2 groups; addicted group (score > 32, n=32) and non-addicted group (score ≤ to 32, n=18). Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) was assessed using side view photographs, forward head posture (FHP) was measured using ImageJ 64 software, and cervical ROM in each direction was measured using a cervical (CROM) device. Results: A forward multiple regression showed that addiction score and body mass index (BMI) were significant predictors of CVA (R2 =0.31, p<0.001). Twenty-three percent of the variability in CVA was related to addiction score. A forward logistic regression showed that addiction to smartphone use and BMI were significant predictors of having FHP, and participants who were addicted were more than four times as likely to have FHP than those who were not: Odds Ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI)=4.5 (1.2, 10.7), p= 0.03. A significant reduction was found in mean cervical angle in addicted versus non-addicted boys (49.4±6.7 vs. 55.5±7.6,η2=0.5, p=0.03) and girls (47.3±6.3 vs. 52.9±6.1,η2=0.9, p=0.02). A significantly more limited cervical ROM found in most neck movements in addicted participants with FHP compared to participants without FHP. Conclusion: Children who are addicted to smartphones may develop faulty habitual posture due to constant neck flexion downward, which may place them at high risk of spine abnormalities.