Assessing the impact of certain exercises on the spatial head posture

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Posture Analysis
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• The head, comprising 6% of body weight, is connected to the cervical spine and other joints via a muscular kinematic chain.
• Forward head posture is a prevalent and potentially dangerous postural disorder.
• Understanding the impact of targeted muscle training on head alignment is crucial for musculoskeletal health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of a 4-week training program on neck and nape muscles on head posture.
• To quantify changes in head posture parameters following a targeted exercise intervention.

Main Methods:

• Twenty participants engaged in neck exercises for 20 days.
• Photogrammetric assessment of head posture in sagittal and frontal planes was conducted pre- and post-intervention.
• Key metrics included the craniovertebral (CV) angle, head tilt (HT) angle, and frontal head tilt (FHT) angle.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in head posture were observed after the 20-day exercise program.
• The average CV angle increased from 47.17° to 50.82° (sagittal plane).
• The average HT angle increased from 20.99° to 24.31° (sagittal plane).
• The average FHT angle decreased from 2.71° to 2° (frontal plane).

Conclusions:

• A brief, home-based exercise regimen effectively enhances head posture.
• Targeted training of neck and nape muscles offers a viable strategy for correcting forward head posture.