Pilates Mat Versus Cervical Stabilization Exercises on Myoelectric Activity of Cervical Muscles in Forward Head Posture

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Musculoskeletal Diseases
• Interventions: Other: cervical stabilization exercises; Other: Pilates mat exercises; Other: conventional physiotherapy

• Registration Number: NCT05069181
• Lead Sponsor: Cairo University

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.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-09-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-09-25
• Study Start: 2021-10-01
• Study First Posted: 2021-10-06
• Primary Completion: 2021-12-30
• Study Completion: 2022-02-01
• Status Verified: 2022-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-10-26
• Last Update Posted: 2022-10-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
cervical stabilization exercises	cervical stabilization exercises	training of deep cervical flexor muscles with pressure biofeedback unit
Pilates mat exercises	conventional physiotherapy	one hour Pilates exercises with 10 min warm up and 5-10 min cooling down
cervical stabilization exercises	conventional physiotherapy	training of deep cervical flexor muscles with pressure biofeedback unit
conventional physiotherapy	conventional physiotherapy	10 min hot pack on cervical area range of motion exercises and isometric neck exercises as a home program
Pilates mat exercises	Pilates mat exercises	one hour Pilates exercises with 10 min warm up and 5-10 min cooling down

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Myoelectric activity of cervical muscles	up to twelve weeks	by surface electromyography (EMG)
Craniocervical angle	up to twelve weeks	by photogrammetric method.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
function of daily life	up to twelve weeks	by neck disability index
Pain intensity of neck area	up to twelve weeks	by visual analogue scale 10 cm line with 2 ends, 0 and 10 ends 0 end means no pain 10 end means the worst pain

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Faculty of Physical Therapy-Cairo University; 🇪🇬 Giza, Egypt