Comparison of Weight Bearing Thrust Manipulation With Non Weightbearing Thrust Manipulation in Patients With Forward Head Posture

This randomized controlled trial was performed in MMRC (Majestic medicine rehabilitation Sciences) Islamabad in February 2023 and consisted of patients having neck pain and forward head posture. 30 Patients were divided into two groups of 15 each by sealed envelope method . Treatment group was given weight bearing thrust manipulation in sitting and control was given non weight bearing thrust manipulation in supine lying. Pain was calculated through NPRS and Cervical ranges were calculated by Inclinometer before and immediately after treatment.

Cervical Spine is most integral part of human spine as it sits between highly stable thoracic and highly movable occipital bodies. It help the head movement of flexion , rotation which are constantly required for performing basic activities of daily life. It is a link between head and rest of the body and due to its need in mobility it is often put under greater stress , muscular imbalance, reduced disc spaces and common site for many spinous syndromes. One of the most common disability that occurs on cervical spine is forward headv posture usually associated with upper crossed syndrome and is known as text neck also due to strain put on spine due to high usage of screen devices. Sedentary lifestyle and postural imbalances and effect of gravity are usually the major causes of muscular and bony imbalances that result in forward head posture. Prolonged state of stress on muscles usually result in pain in neck specially during movement.

High Velocity Low Amplitude Thrust (HVLAT) is a common technique to unlock cervical joints and muscular pain associated with it and immediately reduce pain. Cavitation sound or pop is often associated with this thrust technique that is result decrease in pressure causes dissolved gasses in the synovial fluid to be released into the joint cavity of due to which , the force-displacement curve shifts and the range of motion of the joint increases.It has been stated that spinal manipulation activates presynaptic inhibition of segmental pain pathways, reflex muscle relaxation, and reflex pain Inhibition. It has been repeatedly proved by literature that thrust manupulation is an effective was of increasing ROM and pain in patients in non weight bearing positions but it can also be given in weight bearing position effects of which are yet not very clear specially in patient population such as forward head posture .The current study was planned to compare the effectiveness of thrust manipulation in weight bearing and non weight bearing postions on pain and range in forward head posture . The hypothesis was that there will be significant difference in the effect of thrust manipulation in different positions.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria

* Forward head posture
* Patients who had complain of neck pain
* Decrease range of flexion, extension, rotation and side flexion of cervical spine
* Craniovertebral angle below 48 were included

Exclusion Criteria :

* Patients with structural or anatomical deformity,
* recent surgical history , degenerative changes ,
* cervical instability,
* malignancy
* radiculopathy