Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the results
related to the effects of corrective exercises on postural variables in individuals
with forward head posture (FHP).
Methods
A systematic review of the electronic literature through February 2017 was independently
performed by 2 investigators. The electronic databases searched included PubMed, MEDLINE,
Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Clinical Trials,
Google Scholar, and Scopus. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Physiotherapy
Evidence Database scale. Meta-analyses were carried out for craniovertebral angle
(CVA), cranial angle (CA), and pain intensity.
Results
Seven randomized clinical trials comprising 627 participants met the study criteria.
The between-groups pooled random odds ratios for CVA, CA, and pain were 6.7 (confidence
interval [CI] = 2.53-17.9, P = .0005), 0.7 (CI = 0.43-1.2, P = .2), and 0.3 (95% CI = 0.13-0.42, P < .001), respectively. No publication bias was observed. Level 1a evidence (strong)
indicates exercise training can effectively modify CVA, and level 1b evidence (moderate)
indicates exercise may improve pain but not CA.
Conclusion
The findings suggest that therapeutic exercises may result in large changes in CVA
and moderate improvement in neck pain in participants with FHP. The precise nature
of the relationship between FHP and musculoskeletal pain, and improvements in both
after therapeutic exercise, remains to be established.
Key Indexing Terms
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 11, 2018
Accepted:
February 12,
2018
Received in revised form:
November 18,
2017
Received:
July 10,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 by National University of Health Sciences.
