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Published on: February 10, 2015
Functional shoulder performance and fatigue in young adults with forward head posture with or without scapular
Seda Bicici Ulusahin1, Husna Balci2, Nur Barlas Yalcin1
1University of Health Sciences, Gulhane Faculty of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation - Ankara, Turkey.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to compare functional shoulder performance and fatigue among young adults with forward head posture, forward head posture with scapular dyskinesis (forward head posture+scapular dyskinesia), and healthy controls.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 85 young adults aged 18-25 years, allocated to three groups: forward head posture+scapular dyskinesia (n=25), forward head posture (n=30), and control (n=30). Forward head posture was assessed using the craniovertebral angle, scapular dyskinesia with the Lateral Scapular Slide Test, functional shoulder performance with Timed Functional Arm and Shoulder Test, and fatigue with the Chalder Fatigue Scale.
Results:
Significant between-group differences were found for dominant-side, non-dominant-side, and total Timed Functional Arm and Shoulder Test scores (p<0.001). The forward head posture+scapular dyskinesia group had lower dominant-side and total Timed Functional Arm and Shoulder Test scores than the both forward head posture and control groups (p=0.040, p<0.001, and p=0.031, p<0.001, respectively), while both postural disorder groups had lower non-dominant-side Timed Functional Arm and Shoulder Test scores than controls (forward head posture+scapular dyskinesia: p<0.001; forward head posture: p=0.003). Total and physical fatigue scores were higher in both the forward head posture+scapular dyskinesia and forward head posture groups than in controls (total fatigue: p=0.010 and p=0.011; physical fatigue: both p=0.019), whereas mental fatigue did not differ significantly among the groups (p=0.163).
Conclusion:
Functional shoulder performance was lower in the forward head posture and forward head posture+scapular dyskinesia groups than in the controls, with the lowest scores in the forward head posture+scapular dyskinesia group. Total and physical fatigue were higher in both postural disorder groups, whereas mental fatigue did not differ between groups.
