Forward Head PostureNCT06932965
Cervical Exercises and Balance in Forward Head Posture
A study testing Cervical Stabilization Group and combined group in people with Forward Head Posture, run by Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to evaluate the effects of neck stabilization exercises and proprioception training on balance and posture in university students aged 18-25 who are detected to have forward head posture. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Forward Head Posture
- What is being tested?
- Cervical Stabilization Group and combined group
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 99 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2017to 30 Jun 2017
- 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 18 to 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Individuals aged between 18-35
- Diagnosed with forward head posture based on craniovertebral angle
- No prior neck surgery or trauma
- Able to participate in exercise sessions
Who cannot join
- Neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting balance
- Recent injury or surgery in cervical spine
- Use of medications affecting postural control
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Assessment of the Effects of Cervical Stabilization Exercises and Proprioception Training on Balance and Posture in Individuals With Forward Head Posture
This study aims to evaluate the effects of neck stabilization exercises and proprioception training on balance and posture in university students aged 18-25 who are detected to have forward head posture.
Individuals will be evaluated before the study, and following the evaluation, stabilization exercises will be applied to the first group under the control of a physiotherapist 3 days a week for 6 weeks. In addition to the stabilization exercises, proprioception training will be given to the second group. Individuals are trained with cervical proprioceptive training, exercises performed by returning the neck to its natural neutral posture and to positions within a predetermined range.
Patients are first trained with their eyes open, then with their eyes closed. Feedback for proprioceptive performance is necessary to reduce the margin of error in repositioning. Laser pointer headbands were used for feedback. With the help of this laser pointer, exercises will be applied to the patients by increasing the level of difficulty. In order to make the exercises more difficult, they will first be applied sitting, then standing, then in semi-tandem and tandem positions. No program will be applied to the 3rd group, the control group.
Read the detailed description
This study aims to evaluate the effects of neck stabilization exercises and proprioception training on balance and posture in university students aged 18-25 who were found to have forward head posture.
This study was designed with a randomized controlled experimental research model. Following the ethics committee approval, the data of the study will be collected in the Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University Kozakli Vocational School Application Laboratory.
Inclusion Criteria for the Study:
University students aged 18-25, Those with a craniovertebral angle (CVA) less than 50 degrees, (34). No history of trauma or surgery in the neck region, No systemic disease, No dizziness problems, Individuals who want to participate in the study voluntarily, Individuals who have received informed consent
Exclusion criteria:
Patients who are not between the ages of 18-25, those with a craniovertebral angle greater than 50 degrees, those who are mentally incapable of making assessments, those who cannot adapt to the training program and those who refuse to participate in the study will not be included.
Individuals will be evaluated before the study, following the evaluation, stabilization exercises will be applied to the first group 3 days a week for 6 weeks under the control of a physiotherapist. In addition to the stabilization exercises, the second group will receive proprioception training. Individuals are trained with cervical proprioceptive training, exercises performed by returning the neck to its natural neutral posture and to positions within a predetermined range.
Patients are first trained with their eyes open, then with their eyes closed. Feedback for proprioceptive performance is necessary to reduce the margin of error in repositioning. Laser pointer headbands were used for feedback. With the help of this laser pointer, exercises will be applied to the patients by increasing the level of difficulty. In order to make the exercises more difficult, they will first be applied sitting, then standing, then in semi-tandem and tandem positions. No program will be applied to the 3rd group, the control group.
- Conditions
- Forward Head Posture
- Being tested
- Cervical Stabilization Group, combined group
- Keywords
- cervical stabilization, proprioception, forward head posture
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Cervical Stabilization GroupBehavioural
Participants performed supervised cervical stabilization exercises for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week.
combined groupBehavioural
Participants performed both exercise protocols as described above over the same period
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| control | No intervention | no intervention only measurement |
| Cervical Stabilization Group | Experimental | Participants performed supervised cervical stabilization exercises for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. Receives: Behavioral: Cervical Stabilization Group |
| Combined Group | Experimental | Participants performed both exercise protocols as described above over the same period. Receives: Behavioral: combined group |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
CVA
Participants were included when they have a CVA < 54°, had no cervical trauma or surgical history, systemic disease, and dizziness problem. We fixed the camera (Nikon D5100) 1.5 meters away from the individual and at the shoulder level. According to radiography, which is considered the gold standard in determining the head forward posture, measurements made by photography were found to be valid and reliable (Van Niekerk et al., 2008). A self-balanced position was chosen and side-shots were taken. The examiner marked the C7 spinous process as well as the tragus of the ear. The CVA is calculated at the intersection angle of a line extending to the ear's tragus and a horizontal line passing the spinous of C7. We used Adobe Acrobat software to measure the angle. CVA less than 54 is defined as FHP. We did not include the individual in the study if the CVA was 54 degrees or greater
Measured: baseline
Y-Balance Test (YBT)
This test, an adaptation of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), was employed to assess the dynamic balance of participants. This evaluation was conducted for both feet, starting with the dominant leg positioned at the center of the test. Three reaching directions-anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral-were incorporated into the test, with the apparatus pulled using three tape measures between 90° and 135° in these directions. Participants were instructed to reach as far as possible along the specified line, touching the ground with the most distal part of the reaching foot. Subsequently, they were required to return the reaching leg to a double-leg stance while maintaining a single-leg stance. The test was performed clockwise or counterclockwise, corresponding to the dominance of the right or left leg, respectively. Participants were instructed to keep their hands on the iliac crest and ensure that the heels of the standing legs remained in contact with the ground throughout.
Measured: baseline and after 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (4)
Joint Position Sense
Cervical proprioceptive evaluation was based on the evaluation method used by Revel et al. (1991) (4, 27, 28). Participants were asked to sit relaxed on the experimental chair while putting hands on their legs and keeping heads and necks in a self balanced position. Rubbery headbands were prepared, which can be flexibly fixed to the heads of individuals. The laser marker was fixed on top of these headbands. To determine the neutral position's error deviations, a wall was placed 90 cm in front of the individual, parallel to the 1 mm x 1 m sized millimetric papers. Individuals were tested 10 times in each direction, with the eyes open. In the test, we said that the subjects should be in the posture of rest where they feel comfortable. After the cervical flexure's maximal movement from the subjects, they were asked to return their head to a self-balanced position, where they felt their head straight. When they found a neutral position (0 point), they were asked to concentrate on this pos
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Stork Balance Test
The participant was positioned in a comfortable stance, standing on both feet with hands placed on the hips. They were instructed to lift one leg and place the toes against the knee of the other leg. Following this, the participant was directed to raise the heel and stand on their toes upon command. The stopwatch was initiated as the heel left the floor and stopped under various conditions: if the hand(s) disengaged from the hips, if the supporting foot swiveled or moved in any direction, if the non-supporting foot lost contact with the knee, or if the heel of the supporting foot touched the floor . Each participant underwent three attempts for the test, and the average of these attempts was recorded.
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Postural Assessment
Measured via photogrammetry for craniovertebral angle.
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Balance Performance
stork an y-balance test
Measured: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Apr 2025
- Study start1 Apr 2017
- Primary completion1 May 2017
- Study completion30 Jun 2017
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Forward Head PostureStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 99 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Muhammet Ozalp, Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06932965
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- NevsehirHBVUKozakli
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 10 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 23 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: No plan to share individual participant data (IPD).
Publications
Ozalp M, Talu B, Kayabinar E. Assessment of the effects of cervical stabilization exercises and proprioception training on balance and posture in individuals with forward head posture. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025 Nov 21;26(1):1077. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-09259-7.
PubMed 41272563
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Assessment of the Effects of Cervical Stabilization Exercises and Proprioception Training on Balance and Posture in Individuals With Forward Head Posture
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06932965
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- NevsehirHBVUKozakli
- Conditions
- Forward Head Posture
- Keywords
- cervical stabilization, proprioception, forward head posture
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 99 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 May 2017 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2017 (actual)
- First posted
- 17 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to evaluate the effects of neck stabilization exercises and proprioception training on balance and posture in university students aged 18-25 who are detected to have forward head posture.
Individuals will be evaluated before the study, and following the evaluation, stabilization exercises will be applied to the first group under the control of a physiotherapist 3 days a week for 6 weeks. In addition to the stabilization exercises, proprioception training will be given to the second group. Individuals are trained with cervical proprioceptive training, exercises performed by returning the neck to its natural neutral posture and to positions within a predetermined range.
Patients are first trained with their eyes open, then with their eyes closed. Feedback for proprioceptive performance is necessary to reduce the margin of error in repositioning. Laser pointer headbands were used for feedback. With the help of this laser pointer, exercises will be applied to the patients by increasing the level of difficulty. In order to make the exercises more difficult, they will first be applied sitting, then standing, then in semi-tandem and tandem positions. No program will be applied to the 3rd group, the control group.
Detailed description
This study aims to evaluate the effects of neck stabilization exercises and proprioception training on balance and posture in university students aged 18-25 who were found to have forward head posture.
This study was designed with a randomized controlled experimental research model. Following the ethics committee approval, the data of the study will be collected in the Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University Kozakli Vocational School Application Laboratory.
Inclusion Criteria for the Study:
University students aged 18-25, Those with a craniovertebral angle (CVA) less than 50 degrees, (34). No history of trauma or surgery in the neck region, No systemic disease, No dizziness problems, Individuals who want to participate in the study voluntarily, Individuals who have received informed consent
Exclusion criteria:
Patients who are not between the ages of 18-25, those with a craniovertebral angle greater than 50 degrees, those who are mentally incapable of making assessments, those who cannot adapt to the training program and those who refuse to participate in the study will not be included.
Individuals will be evaluated before the study, following the evaluation, stabilization exercises will be applied to the first group 3 days a week for 6 weeks under the control of a physiotherapist. In addition to the stabilization exercises, the second group will receive proprioception training. Individuals are trained with cervical proprioceptive training, exercises performed by returning the neck to its natural neutral posture and to positions within a predetermined range.
Patients are first trained with their eyes open, then with their eyes closed. Feedback for proprioceptive performance is necessary to reduce the margin of error in repositioning. Laser pointer headbands were used for feedback. With the help of this laser pointer, exercises will be applied to the patients by increasing the level of difficulty. In order to make the exercises more difficult, they will first be applied sitting, then standing, then in semi-tandem and tandem positions. No program will be applied to the 3rd group, the control group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| control | No intervention | –no intervention only measurement |
| Cervical Stabilization Group | Experimental | Behavioral: Cervical Stabilization GroupParticipants performed supervised cervical stabilization exercises for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. |
| Combined Group | Experimental | Behavioral: combined groupParticipants performed both exercise protocols as described above over the same period. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 25 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Individuals aged between 18-35
- Diagnosed with forward head posture based on craniovertebral angle
- No prior neck surgery or trauma
- Able to participate in exercise sessions
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting balance
- Recent injury or surgery in cervical spine
- Use of medications affecting postural control
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Cervical Stabilization GroupParticipants performed supervised cervical stabilization exercises for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. | Behavioural | Cervical Stabilization Group |
| combined groupParticipants performed both exercise protocols as described above over the same period | Behavioural | Combined Group |
Primary outcome
CVA
Time frame: baseline
Participants were included when they have a CVA < 54°, had no cervical trauma or surgical history, systemic disease, and dizziness problem. We fixed the camera (Nikon D5100) 1.5 meters away from the individual and at the shoulder level. According to radiography, which is considered the gold standard in determining the head forward posture, measurements made by photography were found to be valid and reliable (Van Niekerk et al., 2008). A self-balanced position was chosen and side-shots were taken. The examiner marked the C7 spinous process as well as the tragus of the ear. The CVA is calculated at the intersection angle of a line extending to the ear's tragus and a horizontal line passing the spinous of C7. We used Adobe Acrobat software to measure the angle. CVA less than 54 is defined as FHP. We did not include the individual in the study if the CVA was 54 degrees or greater
Y-Balance Test (YBT)
Time frame: baseline and after 8 weeks
This test, an adaptation of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT), was employed to assess the dynamic balance of participants. This evaluation was conducted for both feet, starting with the dominant leg positioned at the center of the test. Three reaching directions-anterior, posteromedial, and posterolateral-were incorporated into the test, with the apparatus pulled using three tape measures between 90° and 135° in these directions. Participants were instructed to reach as far as possible along the specified line, touching the ground with the most distal part of the reaching foot. Subsequently, they were required to return the reaching leg to a double-leg stance while maintaining a single-leg stance. The test was performed clockwise or counterclockwise, corresponding to the dominance of the right or left leg, respectively. Participants were instructed to keep their hands on the iliac crest and ensure that the heels of the standing legs remained in contact with the ground throughout.
4 secondary outcomes
Joint Position Sense
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Stork Balance Test
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Postural Assessment
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Balance Performance
Time frame: Baseline and after 8 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Apr 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41272563Ozalp M, Talu B, Kayabinar E. Assessment of the effects of cervical stabilization exercises and proprioception training on balance and posture in individuals with forward head posture. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025 Nov 21;26(1):1077. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-09259-7.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. No plan to share individual participant data (IPD).
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Cervical Stabilization Group and combined group in people with Forward Head Posture, run by Nevsehir Haci Bektas Veli 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 4 inclusion and 3 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 23 Apr 2025. 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?
CVA (time frame: baseline). 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?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06932965, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 23 Apr 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 31 Oct 2026.