Breathing Exercises Effects on Forward Head Posture

Overview

The main objective of this study is to find the effects of breathing exercises on cardiorespiratory parameters in subjects with forward head posture. This will be a Randomized Clinical Trial study with two different breathing exercises which include Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise (DBE) for Treatment group A individuals and Thoracic Extension Exercise (TEE) for Treatment Group B individuals will be performed along with ergometric advices. Each exercise session will be done three times per week for total over a period of 12 weeks. Outcomes will be measured at baseline, 6th and 12th week with photogrammetry method for craniovertebral angle (CVA) and spirometer for pulmonary function test values (PFTs).

The Forward Head Posture (FHP)is the poor posture alignment of the body in which the craniovertebral angle is \<50 degrees. This FHP causes the deep cervical flexors to become weak and excessive use of the sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene muscle leads towards compromised respiratory functions. The diaphragm mobility is also reduced which effect the lung volume and capacities. FHP is due to weak deep neck flexor muscles which are compensated by the over-activity of sternocleidomastoid and scalene muscle. This in turn leads to many musculoskeletal changes like muscular imbalance, changes in stress-strain curve due to over activity of cervical spine. FHP can badly effect thoracic expansion and alveolar ventilation which can reduce vital capacity, reduce lung volumes and lung capacities thus leading towards respiratory function weakening. Prolonged FHP not only affect the muscles but also involve ligaments of the cervical and upper thoracic spine which cause the respiratory disorders and the end result of these changes shows that 83% of individuals with this forward head posture had altered breathing pattern. This shows that there is strong relation between cervical posture and respiratory parameters. The respiratory function is usually affected by any change in muscle activity which is caused by pain in neck flexors or extensors and their reduced activity which causes changes in vicious circle of the neck. For improvements in such forward head posture and its related problems many therapeutic and rehabilitative techniques have been used such as Kinesio tapping, myofascial release, and Mckenzie exercises.All of these showed positive impact in improving the forward head posture and reducing impairments. Some of the previous exercises mentioned showed the positive combined effects of breathing exercises and therapeutic exercises