Posterior neck weighting an innovative and novel head orthosis for forward head posture correction: randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Muscle activity of the anterior and posterior elements of the cervical spine, both together actively contribute to the balance of the head position over the neck. Increasing muscular tension of the one cervical muscle group could induce poor motor control of cervical spine joints, this might contribute to the anterior position of the head with neck, known as forward head posture (FHP). We propose posterior neck weighting as an innovative orthosis to correct head posture within FHP participants and improve co-related mechanical neck pain. Methods: Sixty-one participants with FHP;were randomly assigned to one of two groups posterior cervical weighing orthosis (PCWO) or deep cervical flexion (DCF) exercise. Each participant has been assessed for change in Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) as an indicator for FHP severity, and neck disability index (NDI). Results: Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test showed a statistically significant change difference regarding the degree of CVA improvements, and the score of NDI of pre-and post-intervention of the PCWO group (p < 0.0001), (p < 0.0001), and of the DCF group (p < 0.0001), (p = 0.0039), respectively. Mann–Whitney Test, showed a statistically significant difference between groups for CVA improvement (p < 0.0001), and NDI (p = 0.045). No correlation between CVA and NDI scores within the PCWO group (r = 0.129, p = 0.473), and within the DCF exercise group (r = 0.073, p = 0.71). Conclusion: PCWO is a novel and innovative neck orthosis that is considered a promising intervention to correct FHP and improve correlated neck disability. © 2024 Professor P K Surendran Memorial Education Foundation