Comparative Effectiveness of Kendall Exercises and Integrated Postural Training on Pain, Range of motion, Strength, Posture and Disability of Neck in Individuals with Text Neck Syndrome

Background Text Neck is a term coined by US chiropractor Dr Dean L Fishman to describe a repetitive stress injury from prolonged forward head flexion while using handheld devices like smartphones and tablets Its increasingly recognized as a modern occupational health concern affecting both adults and younger populations.

Diagnostic criteria include 3 hours day of phone use neck flexion of 15 or more over prolonged periods and at least 3 of 6 symptoms neck pain upper back shoulder pain headache insomnia tingling numbness in upper limbs Amongst treatment options Kendall Exercises target postural muscle imbalances and improve alignment and integrated postural training IPT integrates core stabilization proprioceptive feedback and postural awareness

OBJECTIVES To find out the comparative effectiveness of Kendall Exercises and Integrated Postural Training in reducing pain improving range of motion ROM increasing strength improving posture and decreasing disability of cervical spine in individuals with Text Neck Syndrome

HYPOTHESIS Null Hypothesis Ho There will be no significant difference between Kendall Exercises and Integrated Postural Training in decreasing pain disability and improving Range of motion Strength Posture individuals with Text Neck Syndrome Alternate Hypothesis H1 There will be a significant difference between Kendall Exercises and Integrated Postural Training in decreasing pain disability and improving Range of motion Strength Posture individuals with Text Neck Syndrome

Material and Methods This randomized controlled trial will be conducted on text neck syndrome patients experiencing neck pain recruited from the Indian Spinal Injury Centre New Delhi A total of 24 participants 12 in each group will be included based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria Eligible individuals will be aged 18 to 25 years those who used mobile phones more than 3 to 4 hours per day Using the phone with a neck flexion of approximately 15 degrees or greater Moderate pain on VAS Participants with history of trauma or surgery cervical or shoulder pathology congenital spinal disorders ongoing physiotherapy treatment or psychiatric illness will be excluded Baseline assessments will cover pain VAS CROM goniometry disability neck disability index craniovertebral angle for posture measured via physio master app and a pressure biofeedback unit for strength Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups Group A received Kendall exercises while Group B received integrated postural training The intervention will be conducted for 20 30 minutes per session three times a week for four weeks Post intervention assessments will follow the same outcome measures

Statistical Analysis Plan Data will be analyzed using SPSS v210 Normality will be tested with the Shapiro Wilk test Paired t test or Wilcoxon test will be used for within group comparisons and independent t test or Mann Whitney U test for between group comparison.