Development and validation of sensor-based application for forward head posture correction

This pilot study titled Development and Validation of Sensor Based Application for Forward Head Posture Correction aims to develop and validate a mobile application integrated with wearable sensors to monitor and correct Forward Head Posture. Forward Head Posture is a common cervical postural fault characterized by anterior displacement of the head and is frequently associated with prolonged digital device use, sedentary lifestyle, and poor ergonomics. It is linked to neck pain, stiffness, headaches, shoulder and upper back pain, reduced range of motion, impaired proprioception, and balance deficits. If left uncorrected, it may progress to chronic musculoskeletal and degenerative spinal conditions.

Conventional physiotherapy interventions such as manual therapy, stretching, strengthening, and postural retraining provide symptomatic relief but lack mechanisms for sustained behavioral reinforcement. This study addresses this gap by introducing a sensor based application capable of monitoring the craniovertebral angle in real time and providing biofeedback to promote long term postural correction.

The objectives are to design and develop a sensor integrated mobile application for real time craniovertebral angle monitoring, to validate its accuracy and reliability against standard physiotherapy assessment tools, and to evaluate its effectiveness in improving forward head posture over a defined intervention period.

The study will be conducted in the outpatient department of Chitkara University using a pilot design with 10 purposively sampled adults aged 18 to 25 years having observable forward head posture with craniovertebral angle less than 50 degrees and daily digital device use of four hours or more. Participants must be able to use a smartphone and provide informed consent. Individuals with neurological disorders, cervical surgeries, chronic pain requiring medication, ongoing rehabilitation, severe visual or vestibular deficits, pregnancy, or non compliance will be excluded.

A sensor system mounted on the tragus and C7 vertebra using a custom ear frame will record angular data through an accelerometer gyroscope processed by an Arduino Nano 33 IoT microcontroller. Persistent deviation in posture will trigger a vibration alert at the nape of the neck. Data will be logged via a web or mobile application and compared with manual plumb line assessment by a physiotherapist. User experience and feasibility will be documented.

Outcome measures include application recorded craniovertebral angle, manual posture assessment, participant feedback, and technical performance indicators. Data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical tools.

Risks are minimal and include mild discomfort or irritation. Benefits include early detection and correction of forward head posture, enhanced postural awareness, and a cost effective, non invasive adjunct to physiotherapy.