Reliability of forward head posture evaluation while sitting, standing, walking and running.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanical analysis
• Postural assessment
• Human movement science

Background:

• Forward head posture (FHP) assessment often lacks standardized methods, relying on visual observation or simple measurements.
• Existing FHP measurement techniques show variability, impacting diagnostic accuracy and treatment effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of existing methods for measuring forward head posture (FHP).
• To identify optimal measurement conditions and variables for consistent FHP assessment.

Main Methods:

• Employed a three-dimensional motion capture system to measure head position variables in 20 asymptomatic participants.
• Assessed reliability (intra-class correlation coefficients) across seven conditions: sitting, straight sitting, standing, straight standing, walking (4 and 6 km/h), and running (8 km/h).
• Examined three head-position variables, including horizontal gap measurements and head orientation.

Main Results:

• High intra-class correlation coefficients (0.81–0.96) indicated good to excellent reliability for repetitive measures.
• Reliable measurements (>0.9) were achieved during straight sitting, straight standing, and walking at 6 km/h.
• The horizontal gap between the tragus and the 7th cervical vertebra demonstrated higher consistency than other measured variables.

Conclusions:

• A standardized evaluation protocol is crucial for reliable forward head posture assessment.
• Specific activities like straight sitting, straight standing, and moderate-paced walking provide the most consistent measurements.
• The tragus-to-7th cervical vertebra gap is a promising variable for standardized FHP evaluation.