Clinical trial NCT05069181: Pilates Mat Versus Cervical Stabilization Exercises on Myoelectric Activity of Cervical Muscles in Forward Head Posture
Official title: Pilates Mat Versus Cervical Stabilization Exercises on Myoelectric Activity of Cervical Muscles, Craniovertebral Angle, Pain and Function in Young Adults With Forward Head Posture: Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Musculoskeletal Diseases
Keywords: Forward head posture
Craniovertebral angle
Pilates mat exercises
Lead sponsor: Cairo University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2021-10-06
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 25
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: FACTORIAL
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: see if there is no statistical significant difference between the effects of Pilates mat versus cervical stabilization exercises on myoelectric activity of cervical muscles in young adults with forward head posture.

Detailed description: Forward head posture (FHP) increases extension of the atlanto-occipital joint and the upper cervical vertebrae as well as flexion of the lower cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae. Furthermore, this posture causes persistent and abnormal contraction of the suboccipital, neck, and shoulder muscles. Additionally, the muscles around the head and shoulders, including the trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, suboccipital, and temporal, are affected by FHP, which further worsens postural deformity. FHP is the most common deviation from ideal head posture and is characterized by the head projecting forward into the sagittal plane such that it is anterior to the trunk. Head in forward posture can add up to thirty pounds of abnormal leverage on the cervical spine, which pull the entire spine out of alignment, in addition, loss of the physiological lordosis could be a possible cause of pain due to muscular imbalance.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects of both genders aged 18-25 years old with forward head posture will be included in this study
* Subjects have forward head posture if craniovertebral angle ≤ 50.
* Subjects complain non- specific neck pain for at least 3 months or at least two episodes of non-specific neck pain during the last three months.
* Normal body mass index

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with any spinal problems
* Subjects with experience in Pilates exercises through the last 3 months of the start of intervention will be excluded from the study
* Previous surgery in the neck and shoulder regions
* Current participation in a structured exercises program
* Neurological symptoms of the upper extremities during screening tests (e.g., Spurling test and upper limb tension tests)
* Red flags suggesting of cancer, infection, vascular insufficiency
* Cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy

Primary outcomes:
measure: Myoelectric activity of cervical muscles
timeFrame: up to twelve weeks
measure: Craniocervical angle
timeFrame: up to twelve weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Pain intensity of neck area
timeFrame: up to twelve weeks
measure: function of daily life
timeFrame: up to twelve weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Giza
country: Egypt
facility: Faculty of Physical Therapy-Cairo University
Study officials:
affiliation: professor of physical therapy- cairo university
name: Haytham M Elhafez, Professor
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References: