Effects of Postural Correction Exercises in Reducing Forward Head Posture in Children Carrying Heavy Bag Packs

Effects of 4 Weeks Postural Correction Exercises in Reducing Forward Head Posture in Children Carrying Heavy Bag Packs

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of a 4-week postural correction exercise program in reducing FHP in children carrying heavy backpacks to school. This study's findings could have significant implications for preventing musculoskeletal problems associated with FHP. Furthermore, the study's findings could inform healthcare professionals and educators about the importance of promoting healthy postures among children and adolescents to prevent long-term musculoskeletal problems. This is an experimental study. Subjects will be divided into two groups. Group A (control group) and group B (experimental group).fun activities will be performed by experimental group under the supervision of the therapist.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Postural Kyphosis
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: strengthening exercise; Other: Postural correction exercises

Detailed Description

Regular use of heavy school bags and inappropriate carrying methods can put children at the risk of musculoskeletal problems and changes the body posture. It is imperative to note that carrying a backpack more than the recommended weight limit poses a twofold hazard, particularly to children and adolescents who are undergoing neuromusculoskeletal development and growth. Hence, it is crucial to ensure that the backpack's weight does not exceed 10-15% of the child or adolescent's body weight. Overreaching this weight limit may result in posterior displacement of the center of gravity, thereby engendering augmented strain on the neck and back muscles. Such effects are commonly linked with spinal column pathologies and reduced lung volume.One of the most prevalent types of postural anomaly is called "forward head posture" (FHP), and it is typically characterized by the head being anterior to the body's vertical line gravity point. Chronic FHP issues develop from an excessive load being placed on the joint and muscle when cervical muscular imbalances brought on by postural misalignment are left untreated. Both an upper cervical extension and a lower cervical flexion define forward head position. These modifications in the cervical region could result in long-term bad head posture, which could cause "upper crossed syndrome" or other musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, neck and shoulder pain are common complaints among FHPs patients . Numerous studies have shown that carrying a backpack that is 7.5% of or more of your body weight (BW) causes postural compensations. The increased weight of the backpack correlates with higher FHP, trunk flexion, spinal asymmetry, and tensile forces in the intervertebral discs under static settings

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 86
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan, 46000
      • Private and Public Schools

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Both gender
• Children who carry heavy backpacks to school (more than 10% of their body weight)
• Forward head posture, defined as a craniovertebral angle of less than 50 degrees.
• Willing to participate in the study.
• Consent obtained from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cervical spine fracture or neurological disorder.
• Scoliosis or torticollis.
• Joint hypermobility or recent surgery . Prior history of physical therapy treatment for forward head posture in the past six months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Postural correction exercises group B; Chin Tuck, Strengthening shoulder retractors, Stretching sternocleidomastoiD, Pectorals stretch .	Other: Postural correction exercises; Chin Tuck, Strengthening shoulder retractors, Stretching sternocleidomastoiD, Pectorals stretch For strengthening exercises 3 sets of 10 repetitions were performed with 6 seconds rest period between each set and a hold of 6 seconds. Stretching exercises will be performed in 3 sets of 10 repetitions ,30 seconds hold and 30 seconds rest period between each exercise. The exercises were performed 3days a week for 4 weeks.
Active Comparator: General training group A; Perform general physical training activities conducted in schools including upper limb forward elevation, lateral elevation, touching toes in standing and cervical range of motion, strengthening exercise will be performed.	Other: strengthening exercise; Perform general physical training activities conducted in schools including upper limb forward elevation, lateral elevation, touching toes in standing and cervical range of motion, strengthening exercise will be performed for 3days a week for 4 weeks.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Forward head posture analysis app	Changes form the Baseline will be measured. This Forward head posture analysis app can be used to assess the forward head posture using visual analysis through camera. the angle of the cervical spine was measured in the side view through pictures.	4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
numeric pain rating scale	Changes form the Baseline will be measured. It measured the neck pain with 11 points, 0 showing min and 10 showing max pain	4th week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Riphah International University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Aisha Razzaq, MSPT-OMPT, Riphah International University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): February 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 30, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 31, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 14, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 12, 2024
• Last Verified: November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: strength training; forward head posture; posture correction exercises
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Spinal Diseases; Spinal Curvatures; Kyphosis
• Other Study ID Numbers: MSPT/01689 Sidrah Sufian

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No