scholarly journals Effects of Deep Cervical Flexor Training on Forward Head Posture, Neck Pain, and Functional Status in Adolescents Using Computer Regularly

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Isha Sikka ◽  
Chandan Chawla ◽  
Shveta Seth ◽  
Ahmad H. Alghadir ◽  
Masood Khan

In contemporary societies, computer use by children is a necessity and thus highly prevalent. Using computers for long hours is related to a higher risk of computer-related muscular disorders like forward head posture (FHP) and neck pain (NP). Deep cervical flexor (DCF) muscles are important head-on-neck posture stabilizers; thus, their training may lead to an improvement in FHP and NP. The aim of this study was to determine if 4 weeks of DCF training is effective in alleviating NP, improving FHP, and functional status in adolescent children using computers regularly, a pretest-posttest experimental group design was used. Subjects were randomly assigned into the experimental group (receiving DCF training and postural education) and the control group (receiving postural education only). 30 subjects with a mean age of 15.7 ± 1.725 years with NP and FHP using computers regularly participated in the study. Dependent variables were measured on day 1 (at baseline) and after 4 weeks of training. Photographic analysis was used for measuring FHP, visual analog scale for NP intensity, and neck disability index for functional status. Data analysis showed that in both groups, no significant improvement occurred in FHP. In both groups, there was a significant improvement in functional status and NP. There was no significant difference between both groups for FHP and NP. There was a significant improvement in functional status in the experimental group in comparison to the control group. Four weeks of DCF training does not cause a significant improvement in FHP in 13 to 18 years old adolescent children using computers regularly.

2021 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-299
Author(s):  
Na-Yeon Kang ◽  
Sang-Cheol Im ◽  
Kyoung Kim

Objectives: This study aims to investigate how exercise programs not directly applied to the cervical spine affect office workers with forward head posture (FHP). Patients and methods: Between March 2018 and June 2018, a total of 32 office workers with FHP (13 males, 19 females; mean age 36.63 years; range, 23 to 57 years) were randomized either to experimental (n=16) or control groups (n=16). Scapular stabilization and thoracic extension exercises were applied to the experimental group and cervical stabilization and stretching exercises to the control group. The results of the pre-intervention and after six weeks measurement of the craniovertebral angle (CVA), respiration, pain, and disability were compared and analyzed. Results: For intra-group comparison, both groups showed significant differences (p<0.05) in CVA, forced expiratory volume at 1 sec (FEV1), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and neck disability index at pre- and post-intervention, while only the experimental group showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in maximum inspiratory pressure, maximum expiratory pressure, and forced vital capacity. For inter-group comparison, a significant difference (p<0.05) between FEV1 and VAS was observed. Conclusion: The combination of scapular stabilization and thoracic extension exercises, not directly applied to the cervical spine, has an effect on improving the posture, respiration, neck pain, and disability in office workers with FHP.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1260-1265
Author(s):  
Jyoti Kataria ◽  
Bijender Sindhu ◽  
Sonia Pawaria

Neck pain found to be most common musculoskeletal condition in office workers with 12-month prevalence. Mechanical neck pain can be classified into two categories in clinical studies mechanical neck pain which has patients without any identifiable anatomic cause and leaves patients having neurological dysfunctions cervicogenic headache and inflammatory disorders. Current research work has total of 150 participants out of which there were 100 females school teachers having mean age of 37.8 years(median 38 years) and 50 male school teachers having mean age 40 years (median 39 years). Participants included in the study were professionally active school teachers of primary, secondary and senior secondary. Scapula position and neck disability was examined as per keiblers lateral scapular slide test and Neck disability index. Total 150 teachers were included in the study 80 teachers having mechanical neck pain (study group) and 70 teachers not having mechanical neck pain (control group) statistically significant difference found in scapula position and neck disability. In the present research, it is found that there is statistically significant difference in scapula position protraction and upward rotation at three different levels as well as there are statistically significant changes observed in neck disability. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Om Elhana Kamel Abo Shehata ◽  
Omima Said M.H. Shehata ◽  
Seham Mohamed Abd elalem

Objective: Thyroidectomy is a surgery in which head and neck became extended during operation to facilitate surgical performance. Patients experience neck pain and limitation to the range of motion following surgery. The study’s aim was to assess the effect of neck range of motion exercises on neck disability and pain among patients undergoing thyroidectomy.Methods: A quasi-experimental research design was utilized, the research was carried out at the surgical department in Shebin Emergency Hospital, at Shebin El-Kom District, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Sample; 90 adult subjects undergoing thyroidectomy and are welcoming to participate in the current research. Four Instruments for data collection: Instrument (1): Interview questionnaire sheet consists of two parts to assess subjects’ socio-demographic and medical data. Instrument (2): Visual analog pain scale to rate the patients’ level of pain intensity. Instrument (3): Neck disability index to assess neck pain and its effect on patients’ ability to perform daily activities. Instrument (4): Compliance assessment sheet to follow the patient’s adherence with neck range of motion exercise.Results: There was no statistically significant difference found between study and control group socio-demographic characteristics and medical history while there was a statistically significant difference between study and control group concerning neck disability and pain after one week and four weeks post-operative thyroidectomy.Conclusions: Patient compliance with a range of motion exercises significantly improves neck movement in order to be able to carry out daily life activities and reducing pain for the study group in comparison with the control group.Recommendation: Nurses who work in the general surgery department should include a neck range of motion exercises in providing the care and follow up protocol for the patients undergoing thyroidectomy.


Author(s):  
Wonho Choi

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of flexion exercise of the deep cervical muscles on headache and sleep disorders in patients with tension headaches and forward head posture. A total of 32 patients with tension headaches and forward head posture were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 16). The experimental group performed cervical deep muscle flexion exercises for 4 weeks, whereas the control group performed stretching exercises for the same period. The Henry Ford Hospital Headache Disability Inventory (HDI) was used for headache assessment, and the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-K) was used for sleep disorder assessment. The experimental group showed a significant reduction in both HDI and PSQI-K score after 4 weeks of intervention (p < 0.001), while no significant difference was found in the control group (p > 0.05). On comparing the experimental and control groups, we found a significant difference in changes in the HDI and PSQI-K between the groups (p < 0.05). The results indicate that flexion exercise of the deep cervical muscles in patients with tension headache and forward head posture will improve the quality of life and activities of daily life by mitigating headaches and sleep disorders.


Author(s):  
Mohammad Zeeshan ◽  
Siddhartha Sen ◽  
Pooja Bhardwaj Dhawan

Introduction: Mechanical neck pain is a significant societal burden and may include symptoms in the neck and upper extremity. It has been reported that the lifetime and point prevalence of neck pain are almost as high as those of low back pain. It appears to run a chronic episodic course, which is characterised by episodes of persistent, recurrent, or fluctuating pain and disability. It has been found that an altered muscle activity in the Trapezius and the Serratus anterior muscles can be associated with the presence of pain in the neck during functional activities. Aim: To find out the effects of Kinesiotaping on the improvement of sensorimotor function and neck disability in patients with chronic neck pain. Materials and Methods: This was a pre-test, post-test control group design with 30 subjects randomly selected and divided into two groups, an experimental group (Group A) and a control group (Group B) with 15 subjects in each. Experimental group received Kinesio Tape (KT) for 1 week whereas control group received Sham tape. Measurements were taken on the first day and 1 week after the intervention for Cervical Joint Position Sense (CJPE), range of motion and neck disability using an inclinometer instrument, universal goniometer, Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire, respectively. The data was analysed using SPSS 17 software package. Independent t-test was done to find effect between the groups and paired t-test was done to find out the effect within the group. Results: The study clearly demonstrated a significant improvement in CJPE, Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) and NDI within group A (p<0.05) whereas improvement showed significance in CROM and NDI for group B. While comparing both the groups, significant improvement in proprioception and NDI was shown but not in CROM. Conclusion: The study concludes that patients with chronic mechanical neck pain can be benefitted by the use of Kinesiotaping with improvement of sensorimotor function.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Mylonas ◽  
Pavlos Angelopoulos ◽  
Evdokia Billis ◽  
Elias Tsepis ◽  
Konstantinos Fousekis

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and intermediate-term effects of the combined application of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) techniques and neuromuscular exercises of the cervical and thoracic area on the improvement of the functionality of patients with mechanical neck pain and accompanying forward head posture (FHP). Methods Twenty patients with neck pain and FHP were randomized and received eight treatment sessions of either targeted IASTM in combination with neuromuscular exercises (Group A) or a classical massage and the same set of exercises (Group B). The cervical vertebral angle (CVA), cervical range of motion (ROM) and strength, pain (visual analogue scale-VAS), and neck disability index (NDI) were measured throughout the treatment period and in the two- and four-week post-treatment periods. Results The combined application of IASTM and neuromuscular exercises contributed to a significantly greater improvement in CVA (Group A: + 7,2 deg vs Group B: + 1,1 deg) and NDI (Group A:-25,2 vs Group B:-5,8) than massage and the application of the same exercises. Both interventions improved cervical ROM and strength in the short term. Pain was also significantly improved in both groups in both the short (Group A VAS: − 5,97 vs Group B VAS: − 3,1) and intermediate term (Group A VAS:-5,5 vs Group B:-1,5). Conclusions Combining IASTM and exercises for the cervical and thoracic area can induce positive postural adaptations and improve the functional status of neck pain patients. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN54231174. Registered 19 March 2020 - Retrospectively registered.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 463.2-464
Author(s):  
A. Alawamy ◽  
M. Hassanien ◽  
E. Talaat ◽  
E. Kamel

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis is a common type of autoimmune arthritis characterized by chronic inflammation. Cervical spine is often affected specially in long lasting diseaseObjectives:Evaluate efficacy of Third occipital nerve Radiofrequency under fluoroscopic guidance to treat refractory cervicogenic headache in RA patients.Methods:The current study was revised and approved from the local ethical committee of Faculty of Medicine; Assiut University, then registered in the clinical trials under the number ofNCT03852355. Inclusion criteria included, Patients who fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) (2010) criteria for RA and suffering from upper neck pain and/or headache due to bilateral 3rd occipital nerve involvement, excluding other local cervical spine pathologies was confirmed by MRI and previously failed conservative treatment for at least three months prior to enrollment. Sixty adult patients were randomly assigned to one of the two studied groups Group 1 (RF, n = 30), received bilateral Third occipital nerve Radiofrequency under fluoroscopic guidance or Group 2 (control group, n = 30), received oral prednisolone 10 mg/day. The two groups were then followed-up with neck disability index (NDI), nocturnal neck pain VAS score and headache score every two weeks for three months. Sleep disturbance, sleep disability index were reassessed six months post intervention. Post interventional assessment was done by pain physician who were kept blind to the grouping process.Results:Neck disability index (1ry outcome), Nocturnal pain VAS, and severity of headache showed significant differences during the whole post-interventional study period. The patients in RF group demonstrated significant improvement of pain in comparison to baseline value over the whole six months with p-value < 0.001 as regard to the fore-mentioned three parameters. On the other aspect, the control group patients showed significant improvement in comparison to its baseline value after the 2nd, 12th and 24th weeks only as follows: (0.001,0.003, 0.003 for the NDI) (p values of 0.02,0.01, 0.01 for the nocturnal pain VAS), (0.001 0.009, 0.005 for the headache VAS severity.Conclusion:Radiofrequency of 3rd occipital nerve is effective in treatment of refractory cervicogenic headache in RA.Disclosure of Interests: :None declared


Author(s):  
Muhammad Kashif ◽  
Nosheen Manzoor ◽  
Rimsha Safdar ◽  
Hafsa Khan ◽  
Maryam Farooq ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Cervicogenic headache (CGH) is a common condition that results in significant disability. To treat this dysfunction, Mulligan described sustained natural apophyseal gliders (SNAGs) as a manual therapy approach. However, only inconclusive short-term evidence exists for treating CGH with SNAGs. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate the effect of SNAGs in the treatment of CGH. METHODS: Fourty female patients ranging from 20 to 40 years with CGH were randomly assigned to two groups: 20 in a treatment group and 20 in a control group. SNAGs were applied to the treatment group while the control group received placebo treatment. Both groups received their respective treatment for 20 minutes, alternately three times per week, for a total of 12 times in four weeks. The outcome measures were the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Participants were assessed at baseline and at the end of each week. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Independent t-testing was used to reveal changes between groups. One-way ANOVA was used to determine changes within groups. The level of significance was P< 0.05. RESULTS: Twenty participants (100%) in the treatment group and 17 (85%) in the control group had a history of headache aggravation with active movements or passive head positioning. There was no significant difference at baseline (p> 0.05), indicating that both groups were homogeneous at the time of recruitment. The p value (p< 0.05) showed a significant difference in pain and level of disability at three and four weeks (p< 0.05) in patients treated with SNAGs. However, the cervical range of motion (ROM) showed a statistically significant improvement in flexion and extension in the treatment group (p< 0.05) while there was no significant improvement in side flexion and rotation ROM in both groups (p> 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that SNAGs were effective in reducing pain and neck disability and improved ROM in females with CGH.


Author(s):  
Andrew Lalchhuanawma ◽  
Divya Sanghi

Background: The Neck Disability Index (NDI) is an important self-assessment tool used extensively worldwide, in clinical practice with implications into scientific research fields. It is used to assess the extent of pain and levels of functional disability associated with neck pain. The NDI consists of 10 items where each item was scored from a scale of 0 to 5 giving the maximum score possible to 50. Though proven to be a reliable instrument in the English-speaking population, the NDI has never been validated and culturally adapted in the Mizo language among the rural north-east Indian region where English is not spoken as means of communication. The aim is to translate and cross culturally adapt the NDI into Mizo tawng (official language of Mizoram) with the objective of establishing reliability and validity of the M-NDI in patients with non-specific neck pain.Methods: A total of 49 subjects participated voluntarily from the rural primary health care, Lunglei district, Mizoram. Subject having chronic non-specific neck pain lasting more than 3 months were included after taking a written formal consent.Results: The internal consistency determined by Cronbach alpha, and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) using the test-retest reliability showed a good and an excellent reliability respectively (α=0.82, ICC=0.97, 95% CI= 0.95-0.98). Construct validity was determined between the variables-Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and NDI by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and found to have a good correlation r=0.89 and significant difference at p<0.001.Conclusions: The study results concluded the Mizo version of NDI to be easy to understand, reliable and valid instrument for measuring disability and functional limitations of daily activities in non-specific neck pain in the Mizo speaking population.


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