Publications

Background/Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between forward head posture (FHP) and the mechanical properties of muscles as well as the influence of FHP on them.

Methods: To define participants with FHP, craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured. All participants were divided into two groups in accordance with their CVA: the experimental group (FHP) consisting of participants with a CVA below 50°, and the control group (CON) consisting of participants with a CVA above 50°. The tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the upper trapezius muscle (UT), the middle trapezius muscle (MT), the lower trapezius muscle (LT), the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), the splenius capitis muscle (SC), the pectoralis major muscle (PM), and the serratus anterior muscle (SA) were measured using MyotonPRO (Myoton AS, Tallinn, Estonia).

Results: Both tone and stiffness in the UT were statistically significant (p < 0.05). In addition, stiffness in the LT was statistically significant (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the MT, SCM, SC, PM, and SA muscles (p > 0.05). A significant correlation was found between FHP and both tone and stiffness in the UT (r = −0.731, p = 0.000; r = −0.749, p = 0.000, respectively). No significant correlation was found between FHP and tone, stiffness, and elasticity of the MT, LT, SCM, SC, PM, and SA muscles.

Conclusions: Since the UT was the muscle in which changes in mechanical properties were first induced by FHP, an approach targeting UT is necessary as a priority when treating patients with FHP.

Keywords: forward head posture, muscle tone, muscle stiffness, muscle elasticity

This study showed that FHP increases the tone and stiffness of the UT and the stiffness of the LT in male university students in their 20s. Furthermore, FHP was negatively correlated with both tone and stiffness in the UT. However, there were no significant differences in tone, stiffness, and elasticity in the MT, SCM, SC, PM, and SA muscles between groups. In addition, there was no relationship between the tone, stiffness, and elasticity in the MT, LT, SCM, SC, PM, and SA muscles. These findings demonstrate that the UT is the muscle in which changes in mechanical properties are first induced by FHP. Therefore, our data suggest that an approach targeting UT is necessary as a priority when treating patients with FHP.