Symptomatic Forward Head PostureVRexercisesNCT07193537
Virtual Reality Exercises Versus Motor Control Training in Symptomatic Forward Head Posture
A study testing Virtual reality exercises and conventional treatment in people with Symptomatic Forward Head Posture, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This study will be conducted to Compare between virtual reality exercises versus motor control training on cervical proprioception in symptomatic forward head posture Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Symptomatic Forward Head Posture
- What is being tested?
- Virtual reality exercises and conventional treatment
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 93 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 30 Oct 2025to 30 Jun 2026
- 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 30 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Ninety three subjects from both sexes will participate in the study with CVA less than 50º.
- Subject's age ranged from 18-30 years old, with Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 30Kg/m2. .
- Subjects having neck pain more than 6 weeks .
- Neck disability index (NDI) value less than 24 (mild to moderate disability scores on NDI)
Who cannot join
- 1-Individuals with a recent history of neck or back surgery. 2- Individuals with recent history of trauma or fracture. 3- Individuals with congenital disorders 4- Individuals with any psychiatric diseases
- -
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Virtual Reality Exercises Versus Motor Control Training on Cervical Proprioception in Symptomatic Forward Head Posture
This study will be conducted to Compare between virtual reality exercises versus motor control training on cervical proprioception in symptomatic forward head posture
Read the detailed description
Various occupations require people to maintain a static position for long periods that causes continuous contractions of the head and neck muscle.The poor posture leads to pain and deformity such as forward head posture.Virtual reality exercises(VRE) have been more commonly considered for the improvement of pain , functional ability, and muscular strength.Motor control training (MCT) re-establish the activation pattern of neck muscles and have proven to be effective in improving motor function of deep cervical muscles, reducing discomfort and impairment in patient with FHP and neck pain. 93 subjects from both sexes will participate in the study with CVA less than 50º.Group A:31 subjects will receive virtual reality exercises by VR Training using Xbox Kinect
.Group B: 31 subjects will receive motor control training Group C: 31 subjects will receive conventional treatment in form of (Posture correction (chin tuck exercise)and Stretching exercises .
- Conditions
- Symptomatic Forward Head Posture
- Being tested
- Virtual reality exercises, Motor control training, conventional treatment
- Keywords
- pain
- Medical subject headings
- Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Virtual reality exercisesOther
Thirty one subjects will receive virtual reality exercises by VR Training using Xbox Kinect. The Kinect sensor is an infrared camera that can recognize the positions and motions of the player without the need for special controller. The console controls the various games .For the VR training, the Xbox Kinect, console, and monitor will set up in a dedicated space. The patient will placed 1.5-2 m away from the Kinect sensor. Before the start of the training session, the research assistant adjusted the position of the sensor while the patient is sitting to ensure optimal position and motion capture, and loaded games into the system. After the setup is completed, the research assistant demonstrated games included in the Kinect adventure
Motor control trainingOther
Thirty one subjects will receive motor control training two times a week for eight weeks in form of deep cervical flexors strengthening using pressure biofeedback unit (craniocervical flexor exercise) :Pressure biofeedback unit will be used to perform Cranio-cervical flexor muscle training. Through which an endurance and isometric exercise for DNFs in progressive range positions will be performed each session, the PBU's air bag will be positioned below the occiput, and the inflatable cuff pressure sensor will be inflated to a baseline of 20 mmHg. Participants will instruct to target five pressure levels between 22 and 30 mmHg by nodding. scapular exercises .With patient in prone position, pillow under the chest and upper limb in varying degree of shoulder abduction, the participant lifts the hand toward the ceiling while retracting the scapula
conventional treatmentOther
Thirty one subjects will receive conventional treatment for 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Conventional treatment will include the following:
1-Posture correction (chin tuck exercise) Stand with the upper back against the wall, with the feet shoulder-width apart. Tuck the chin in and hold for 5 seconds 10 repetitions .Return to the starting position and repeat a number of times. This can help stretch the muscles in the upper neck 2. Stretching exercise: Self-stretching exercise for most common tight muscles. These muscles include upper trapezius (by contralateral side bending), levator scapulae (flexion, contralateral side bending and rotation) and sternocleidomastoid muscle (slight flexion with ipsilateral side bending and rotation). Each position should be maintained for 30 seconds and repeated for 3 times.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual reality exercises | Experimental | Thirty one subjects will receive virtual reality exercises by VR Training using Xbox Kinect for four weeks . Receives: Other: Virtual reality exercises |
| Motor control training | Experimental | Motor control training for four weeks Receives: Other: Motor control training |
| conventional treatment | Active comparator | conventional treatment for four weeks in form of posture correction and stretching exercises Receives: Other: conventional treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
cervical propioception
Cervical proprioception will be assessed using CROM .
Measured: up to four weeks
Craniovertebral angle (CVA)
Photogrammetric method will be used to assess CVA
Measured: up to four weeks
Secondary outcomes (3)
pain intensity
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to assess pain intensity
Measured: up to four weeks
Neck function
Arabic version of neck disability index will be used to assess neck function
Measured: up to four weeks
Deep neck flexors endurance
Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU, Chattanooga, TN, USA) will be used to assess endurance
Measured: up to four weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Sep 2025
- Study start30 Oct 2025
- Primary completion30 Jun 2026
- Study completion30 Jun 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Symptomatic Forward Head PostureStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Model description
- Virtual reality systems have been used in assessments and treatments in the field of rehabilitation . Motor control training motor control training of deep neck flexors with pressure biofeedback is an effective intervention for improving pain intensity and disability in patients with neck pain and preferable to strength-endurance training of cervical muscles . Scapular stabilization exercise can help improve the head posture and pain in the patients with neck pain and forward head posture. conventional treatment in form of Posture correction (chin tuck exercise) and Stretching exercises
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 93 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Shaimaa Nabil Abdelmageed, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07193537
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- exercises on symptomatic FHP
- Acronym
- VRexercises
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Sep 2025
- Last updated
- 22 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Virtual Reality Exercises Versus Motor Control Training on Cervical Proprioception in Symptomatic Forward Head Posture
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07193537
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- VRexercises / exercises on symptomatic FHP
- Conditions
- Symptomatic Forward Head Posture
- Keywords
- pain
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 93 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 Oct 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 Sep 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 will be conducted to Compare between virtual reality exercises versus motor control training on cervical proprioception in symptomatic forward head posture
Detailed description
Various occupations require people to maintain a static position for long periods that causes continuous contractions of the head and neck muscle.The poor posture leads to pain and deformity such as forward head posture.Virtual reality exercises(VRE) have been more commonly considered for the improvement of pain , functional ability, and muscular strength.Motor control training (MCT) re-establish the activation pattern of neck muscles and have proven to be effective in improving motor function of deep cervical muscles, reducing discomfort and impairment in patient with FHP and neck pain. 93 subjects from both sexes will participate in the study with CVA less than 50º.Group A:31 subjects will receive virtual reality exercises by VR Training using Xbox Kinect
.Group B: 31 subjects will receive motor control training Group C: 31 subjects will receive conventional treatment in form of (Posture correction (chin tuck exercise)and Stretching exercises .
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- Virtual reality systems have been used in assessments and treatments in the field of rehabilitation . Motor control training motor control training of deep neck flexors with pressure biofeedback is an effective intervention for improving pain intensity and disability in patients with neck pain and preferable to strength-endurance training of cervical muscles . Scapular stabilization exercise can help improve the head posture and pain in the patients with neck pain and forward head posture. conventional treatment in form of Posture correction (chin tuck exercise) and Stretching exercises
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual reality exercises | Experimental | Other: Virtual reality exercisesThirty one subjects will receive virtual reality exercises by VR Training using Xbox Kinect for four weeks . |
| Motor control training | Experimental | Other: Motor control trainingMotor control training for four weeks |
| conventional treatment | Active comparator | Other: conventional treatmentconventional treatment for four weeks in form of posture correction and stretching exercises |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Ninety three subjects from both sexes will participate in the study with CVA less than 50º.
- Subject's age ranged from 18-30 years old, with Body Mass Index (BMI) less than 30Kg/m2. .
- Subjects having neck pain more than 6 weeks .
- Neck disability index (NDI) value less than 24 (mild to moderate disability scores on NDI)
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- 1-Individuals with a recent history of neck or back surgery. 2- Individuals with recent history of trauma or fracture. 3- Individuals with congenital disorders 4- Individuals with any psychiatric diseases
- -
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual reality exercisesThirty one subjects will receive virtual reality exercises by VR Training using Xbox Kinect. The Kinect sensor is an infrared camera that can recognize the positions and motions of the player without the need for special controller. The console controls the various games .For the VR training, the Xbox Kinect, console, and monitor will set up in a dedicated space. The patient will placed 1.5-2 m away from the Kinect sensor. Before the start of the training session, the research assistant adjusted the position of the sensor while the patient is sitting to ensure optimal position and motion capture, and loaded games into the system. After the setup is completed, the research assistant demonstrated games included in the Kinect adventure | Other | Virtual reality exercises |
| Motor control trainingThirty one subjects will receive motor control training two times a week for eight weeks in form of deep cervical flexors strengthening using pressure biofeedback unit (craniocervical flexor exercise) :Pressure biofeedback unit will be used to perform Cranio-cervical flexor muscle training. Through which an endurance and isometric exercise for DNFs in progressive range positions will be performed each session, the PBU's air bag will be positioned below the occiput, and the inflatable cuff pressure sensor will be inflated to a baseline of 20 mmHg. Participants will instruct to target five pressure levels between 22 and 30 mmHg by nodding. scapular exercises .With patient in prone position, pillow under the chest and upper limb in varying degree of shoulder abduction, the participant lifts the hand toward the ceiling while retracting the scapula | Other | Motor control training |
| conventional treatmentThirty one subjects will receive conventional treatment for 3 times per week for 4 weeks. Conventional treatment will include the following: 1-Posture correction (chin tuck exercise) Stand with the upper back against the wall, with the feet shoulder-width apart. Tuck the chin in and hold for 5 seconds 10 repetitions .Return to the starting position and repeat a number of times. This can help stretch the muscles in the upper neck 2. Stretching exercise: Self-stretching exercise for most common tight muscles. These muscles include upper trapezius (by contralateral side bending), levator scapulae (flexion, contralateral side bending and rotation) and sternocleidomastoid muscle (slight flexion with ipsilateral side bending and rotation). Each position should be maintained for 30 seconds and repeated for 3 times. | Other | conventional treatment |
Primary outcome
cervical propioception
Time frame: up to four weeks
Cervical proprioception will be assessed using CROM .
Craniovertebral angle (CVA)
Time frame: up to four weeks
Photogrammetric method will be used to assess CVA
3 secondary outcomes
pain intensity
Time frame: up to four weeks
Neck function
Time frame: up to four weeks
Deep neck flexors endurance
Time frame: up to four 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 22 Jul 2026.
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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 Virtual reality exercises and conventional treatment in people with Symptomatic Forward Head Posture, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
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 2 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 22 Jul 2026. 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 Egypt. 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?
cervical propioception (time frame: up to four weeks). 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 22 Jul 2026.