Comparison of Craniocervical Flexion and Scapular Stabilization Exercises in Forward Head Posture and Neck Pain

Overview

The aim of this research is to compare the effects of craniocervical flexion exercises and scapular stabilization exercises in reducing neck pain and forward head posture among females wearing head scarves. Quasi experimental trials done at Akhtar Saeed Trust hospital, Falah o Behbud Associations and Medicare Hospital (Lahore, Pakistan). A sample size of 50 patients was taken using non-probability purposive sampling technique. Subjects were randomly divided into 2 groups. Subjects in group A were treated with craniocervical flexion exercises and the subjects in group B were treated with scapular stabilization exercises with 25 subjects in each group. Pretreatment evaluation was done using numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) and neck disability index (NDI) as subjective measurement and Goniometry for assisted range of motion (AROM) and plumb line method for measuring head posture as objective measurement. The baseline values for all dependent variables were recorded on day one and at the end of 4th week.

Neck pain is very common problem which is characterized by pain and soreness, felt in the area that lies between the lower margin of the occiput and 1st thoracic vertebra. Forward head posture can take place when head translated anteriorly and lower cervical spine goes into flexion or both and it is thought to be related with an increase in upper cervical spine extension. Most common abnormality which is associated with neck pain is forward head posture also known as chin poking. In which head is protrude out in sagittal plane and placed anteriorly to the trunk. It is considered that forward head posture causes an increase in compressive forces on the apophyseal joints of cervical spine and also on the posterior portion of vertebra. That is why, the length and strength of connective tissue change (due to the stretching of anterior structures and shortening of posterior muscles of neck ) following the pain. Shoulder blades and thoracic spine may also be affected with forward head posture, generally causing the imbalance in musculoskeletal system. Cervical flexor and extensor muscle groups strength \& endurance performance ratio determined the magnitude of forward head posture . During daily activities the prolonged static posture in neck , shoulders and head may cause neck pain. Neck pain persistence is often considered to be associated with abnormalities in head posture, therefore some clinicians emphasized its importance while during examination. Postural effects on health is becoming more apparent and the most frequent postural problem is forward neck posture, occurring in between 66-90% of the population approximately. However, with increasing age the cervical range of motion decreased and it's prevalence increased with longer disease period. Generally, the neck pain is more prevalent in women than men. Wearing the headscarf is a part of an essential religious practice by females in Islamic cultures. The headscarf is referred to the scarf that wraps up over the head and around the neck. According to the Pew Research Center there are approximately 1.7 billion Muslims in the world. Estimating the total number of females worldwide who wear headscarves is difficult. Several Islamic countries mandate females to wear headscarves when out in public, while other countries have banned the use of headscarves in public. However, in the majority of the world's countries, wearing headscarves is optional. Females in Islamic cultures wear the headscarf when they are in public and usually begin wearing it at the onset of puberty. Regular wear of the headscarf might have an influence on cervical proprioception and range of motion (ROM). Recent studies have identified impaired activation of the deep cervical flexor muscles, the longus colli and longus capitis, in people with neck pain. Craniocervical flexion is the principal action of deep cervical muscles. Given the role of the deep cervical flexor muscles in postural support and the knowledge of impaired activation of these muscles in people with neck pain, it is likely that this patient population also would display deficits in the postural endurance of these muscles and painful cervical spine disorders. Indeed, evidence suggests that people with neck pain drift into a more forward head position when distracted and Craniocervical flexion exercises improves forward head posture and reduce neck pain.Moreover, retraining the deep cervical flexor muscles, which has been shown to decrease neck symptoms and increase the activation of the deep cervical flexor muscles during performance of the clinical test of craniocervical flexion, may improve the ability to maintain an upright posture of the cervical spine. Furthermore, there is a relationship between cervical ROM and forward head posture.Repeated upper cervical retractions (strengthening deep cervical flexors and stretching cervical extensors) changed resting neck posture. Scapular stabilization brought about improvement in posture through activation of the neck muscles, the lower trapezius, and the serratus anterior. Therefore, this intervention has a positive effect on neck alignment by reducing the compensatory movements of the muscles involved in forward head posture. There is a lack of literature regarding neck pain and forward head posture in females wearing head scarves . That is why, in this study,Forward head posture measurements will be obtained. In addition, the effect of interventions to improve cervical muscle flexibility in this population will be explained. In this study, we considered three factors related to headscarves, Onset of the practice, hours worn per day, and the number of years worn. LITERATURE REVIEW In 2017 determined the effects of wearing the headscarf on cervical spine ROM and joint position error. To analyze the influence of age at onset of wearing the headscarf and duration of hours per day wearing the headscarf on cervical range of motion and joint position error. The headscarf group reported a significant limitation in cervical range of motion in all six directions. Joint position error test revealed no significant difference between groups. Moreover, females in the headscarf group who wore the headscarf for more than 6 hours per day had significantly less left rotation compared to those who wear it for less than or equal to 6 hours, Wearing of the headscarf may result in cervical range of motion limitation. The duration of wearing the headscarf daily is a key factor to limited cervical range of motion an increase in cervical Joint position error. In 2017 determined the effect of forward head posture-improving exercises on rounded shoulder posture when employing the self-stretch exercise, the McKenzie exercise, and the Kendall exercise as intervention methods based on previous studies that reported negative effects of unbalanced posture and musculoskeletal problems on forward head posture and rounded shoulder posture. Their study results showed that all interventions increased the craniovertebral angle and the scapular index, which revealed that the applied exercises had a positive effect on forward head posture and rounded shoulder posture. In 2018, designed the basic data for developing exercise program that helps correcting posture by knowing the effect of strengthening and elongation exercises of upper extremity muscle to forward head posture correction. After 4 weeks of neck and chest extensor muscle exercise, the group who exercised both showed increase in range of neck joint motion and neck flexion of the forward head posture. However, this study provides the fact that the group who exercised both neck and chest muscle had more effect than the control group. In 2017 evaluated the effects of a 16-week resistance and stretching training program applied in physical education (PE) classes on forward head posture and protracted shoulder posture in Portuguese adolescents.. Study concluded that A 16-week resistance and stretching training program decreased forward head and protracted shoulder postures in adolescents. In 2017 , evaluated the effect of modified cervical exercise and determine whether such exercise improves the range of motion of the cervical movement in smartphone users with forward head posture.According to the results of this study,A significantly increased range of motion was seen in all three groups that performed the modified cervical exercises, although the modified cervical exercises were performed for only a relatively short duration (four weeks), the exercises brought about an improvement in the forward head posture that was induced by using a smartphone. In 2018 investigated the effects of scapular stabilization exercise on neck posture, muscle activity, pain, and quality of life in individuals with neck pain and forward head posture. Training the scapular stabilization group showed significant improvement on the craniovertebral angle, upper trapezius muscle activity, serratus anterior muscle. Study concluded that Scapular stabilization exercise can help improve the head posture and pain in the patients with neck pain and forward head posture. Controlling the muscular activities through scapular stabilization exercise also improves the patients' quality of life. In 2018 investigated the effects of scapula movement on neck alignment and the muscles in patients with forward head posture, who has the structural changes around the neck caused from the forward head posture, when scapular stabilization exercise is applied. Scapular stabilization brought about improvement in posture through activation of the neck muscles, the lower trapezius, and the serratus anterior. Therefore, the intervention has a positive effect on neck alignment by reducing the compensatory movements of the muscles involved in forward head posture.