Effectiveness of corrective exercise program on alignment, muscle activation and biomechanical properties in forward head posture: a randomized controlled trial

Year 2024, Volume: 49 Issue: 4, 1082 - 1092, 30.12.2024

Aylin Sarıyıldız , Volkan Deniz , Sibel Başaran

https://doi.org/10.17826/cumj.1583556

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supervised corrective exercise program on craniovertebral angle (CVA), shoulder protraction angle (SPA), and activity/biomechanical properties of cervicothoracic muscles in medical students with forward head posture (FHP).
Materials and Methods: Thirty-six medical students with FHP were allocated to an exercise group (n=18) or a control group (n=18). The participants in the exercise group followed an 8-week supervised corrective exercise program. CVA and SPA were evaluated with photogrammetry and activity and biomechanical chracteristics of the servicothoracic muscles were assessed with surface electromyography and myotonometry at baseline and after supervised exercise program.
Results: Data of thirty-two participants (16 for both groups) were analyzed. A significant improvement of CVA [Mean Difference (MD) 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 7.8 (5.2 to 10.5)] and SPA [MD 95%CI: 3.7 (0.2 to 7.2)] was observed in the exercise group compared to the control group. Multiple regression analysis revealed that a reduction in right upper trapezius stiffness had a significant effect on CVA (B= 0.047, Adjusted R2= 0.61), and the change in the tone of the right lower trapezius (B= 2.85, Adjusted R2= 0.64) had a significant effect on SPA.
Conclusion: An eight-week corrective exercise program improved cervicothoracic alignment in FHP. Streching exercises that reduce the stiffness of the upper trapezius and strengthening exercises that increase the tone of the lower trapezius can be prioritized in the management of FHP.

Keywords

Posture, Exercise, Electromyography, Muscle stiffness

Project Number

clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT05619094)

Düzeltici egzersiz programının baş önde postüründe dizilim, kas aktivasyonu ve biyomekanik özellikler üzerindeki etkinliği: randomize kontrollü bir çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Baş önde postürü (BÖP) olan tıp öğrencilerinde denetimli düzeltici egzersiz programının kraniyovertebral açı (KVA), omuz protraksiyon açısı (OPA) ve servikotorasik kasların aktivite/biyomekanik özellikleri üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmak.
Gereç ve Yöntem: BÖP'lü 36 tıp öğrencisi egzersiz grubuna (n=18) veya kontrol grubuna (n=18) ayrılmıştır. Egzersiz grubundaki katılımcılar 8 haftalık denetimli düzeltici egzersiz programı izlemiştir. KVA ve OPA fotogrametri ile değerlendirilmiş ve servikotorasik kasların aktivitesi ve biyomekanik özellikleri başlangıçta ve denetimli egzersiz programından sonra yüzeysel elektromiyografi ve miyotonometri ile değerlendirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Otuz iki katılımcının (her iki grup için 16) verileri analiz edilmiştir. Kontrol grubuna kıyasla egzersiz grubunda KVA [Ortalama Fark (OF) %95 Güven Aralığı (GA): 7,8 (5,2 / 10,5)] ve OPA'da [OF %95 GA: 3,7 (0,2 / 7,2)] anlamlı bir iyileşme gözlenmiştir. Çoklu regresyon analizi, sağ üst trapezius sertliğindeki azalmanın KVA (B= 0,047, Düzeltilmiş R2= 0,61) üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi olduğunu ve sağ alt trapezius tonusundaki değişimin OPA (B= 2,85, Adjusted R2= 0,64) üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi olduğunu ortaya koymuştur.
Sonuç: Sekiz haftalık düzeltici egzersiz programı BÖP'te servikotorasik dizilimi iyileştirmiştir. Üst trapeziusun sertliğini azaltan germe egzersizleri ve alt trapeziusun tonusunu arttıran güçlendirme egzersizleri BÖP'ün yönetiminde öncelikli olabilir.

Keywords

Postür, Egzersiz, Elektromiyografi, Kas sertliği

Ethical Statement

The study protocol was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT05619094) and approved by the Local Ethics Committee of Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine (Date:16/09/2022, Number:125/15).

Project Number

clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT05619094)

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