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Forward Head PostureNCT05619094

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

A study testing Corrective exercise program in people with Forward Head Posture, run by Cukurova University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 to 30 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Forward Head Posture
What is being tested?
Corrective exercise program
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
36 participants
Where
1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
Study dates
1 Oct 2022to 1 Oct 2023
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 20 to 30 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Medical students with a Craniovertebral angle ˂ 50°

Who cannot join

  • 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

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
  • Cukurova University

    Adana, 01330

Other trials in Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Official title: The Effectiveness of Corrective Exercise Program on Alignment, Muscle Activation and Biomechanical Properties in Medical Students With 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.

Read the detailed description

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.

Being tested
Corrective exercise program
Keywords
Exercise, Craniovertebral angle, Muscle activation, Biomechanical properties, Surface electromyography
Medical subject headings
Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Corrective exercise programOther

    Strengthening exercises for deep cervical flexor muscles and shoulder retractors.

    Stretching exercises for cervical extensors and pectoral muscles.

Study groups in NCT05619094
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Corrective ExerciseExperimentalSelective corrective exercise program, 8 weeks
Receives: Other: Corrective exercise program
ControlNo interventionTraining for proper posture

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Craniovertebral angle

    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

    Measured: Day 0

  2. Craniovertebral angle

    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

    Measured: Week 8

Secondary outcomes (8)
  1. Surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude (RMS)

    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.

    Measured: Day 0

  2. Surface electromyography (EMG) amplitude (RMS)

    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.

    Measured: Week 8

  3. Myotonometer measures (Muscle tone)

    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.

    Measured: Day 0

  4. Myotonometer measures (Muscle stiffness)

    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.

    Measured: Day 0

  5. Myotonometer measures (Muscle elasticity)

    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.

    Measured: Day 0

  6. Myotonometer measures (Muscle tone)

    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.

    Measured: Week 8

  7. Myotonometer measures (Muscle stiffness)

    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.

    Measured: Week 8

  8. Myotonometer measures (Muscle elasticity)

    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.

    Measured: Week 8

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted16 Nov 2022
  2. Study start1 Oct 2022
  3. Primary completion30 Jun 2023
  4. Study completion1 Oct 2023

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Single blind
Who is masked
Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
36 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05619094
Sponsor's protocol ID
Cukurova125
Status last verified
Nov 2023
First submitted
27 Oct 2022
Last updated
28 Nov 2023
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Corrective exercise program in people with Forward Head Posture, run by Cukurova University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Nov 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Craniovertebral angle (time frame: Day 0). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Nov 2023.

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