The Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training in Healthy Adults With Forward Head Posture

The Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training on Posture, Respiratory Functions, Respiratory Muscle Strength and Performance in Healthy Adults With Forward Head Posture

Forward head posture (FHP) is defined as the position in which the head is in front of the shoulder and is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems caused by the increasing use of computers and smartphones. Posture analysis, pulmonary function test, respiratory muscle strength and endurance assessment, and performance test will be performed as the initial evaluation for those who meet the inclusion criteria and volunteer to participate in the study. Participants with a craniovertebral angle of 50 degrees and less than 50 degrees will be included in the head forward posture (FHP, n=34) group, and participants with an angle of more than 50 degrees will be included in the control group (CG, n=34).Participants with HFP will be randomly divided into two groups as study (FHP-S, n=17) and control (FHP-C, n=17). An inspiratory muscle strength training program will be applied to the FHP-C group for 7 days/6 weeks. All assessments performed before the training will be repeated after 6 weeks of inspiratory muscle strength training. No inspiratory muscle strength training will be applied to the FHP-C group. Participants in the CG group will not undergo any additional assessment or training.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Posture
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise

Detailed Description

Forward head posture (FHP) is defined as the position in which the head is in front of the shoulder and is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems caused by the increasing use of computers and smartphones. Posture analysis, pulmonary function test, respiratory muscle strength and endurance assessment, and performance test will be performed as the initial evaluation for those who meet the inclusion criteria and volunteer to participate in the study. Participants with a craniovertebral angle of 50 degrees and less than 50 degrees will be included in the head forward posture (FHP, n=34) group, and participants with an angle of more than 50 degrees will be included in the control group (CG, n=34).Participants with HFP will be randomly divided into two groups as study (FHP-S, n=17) and control (FHP-C, n=17). An inspiratory muscle strength training program will be applied to the FHP-C group for 7 days/6 weeks. All assessments performed before the training will be repeated after 6 weeks of inspiratory muscle strength training. No inspiratory muscle strength training will be applied to the FHP-C group. Participants in the CG group will not undergo any additional assessment or training.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Niğde, Turkey, 51200
    • Niğde Ömer Halisdemir Üniversitesi

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Cranio-vertebral angle (CVA) of 50 degrees and less than 50 degrees

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed respiratory, neurological, orthopedic, psychiatric or cardiac problems
• Have any infection at the time of assessment and training,
• Having any limitation that prevents assessment and training
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding
• Having a history of neck trauma
• Having undergone lumbar-neck surgery

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Forward head posture-Study; participants with a forward head posture who will undergo an exercise program	Other: Exercise; Inspiratory muscle strength training program will be applied to the FHP-C group for 7 days/6 weeks.
No Intervention: Forward head posture-Control; participants with forward head posture who will not perform an exercise program
No Intervention: Control group; control group without forward head posture

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Craniovertebral angle	Where a line drawn from the tragus of the ear to the C7 vertebra intersects a horizontal line, the CV angle is formed.	Baseline
Sagittal head tilt	This angle, which is formed between a line from the canthus of the eye and the tragus of the ear and the horizontal, is a measure of the posture of the upper cervical spine.	Baseline
Sagittal shoulder-C7 angle	Where a horizontal line passing through the lateral shoulder meets the line drawn from C7 to the lateral shoulder, the point of intersection forms the sagittal shoulder-C7 angle	Baseline
Kyphosis angle measurement	The spinous processes of C7 and T12 vertebrae will be marked by a marker (reflector). Extensions of these reflectors will be taken and perpendicular lines will be drawn to these extensions. The angle formed by the intersection of the perpendicular lines will be measured as the thoracic kyphosis angle	Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pulmonary Function Tests- FEV1/FVC	Evaluation of FEV1/FVC ratio MicroQuark® computer-based USB spirometer will be used to assess the respiratory function of the participants. The person will be asked to take a few normal breaths followed by as deep a breath as possible and instructed to exhale forcefully and quickly without waiting. The test will be terminated by instructing the participant to take a deep breath after exhaling for at least six seconds.	Baseline
Pulmonary Function Tests- FVC	Evaluation of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) MicroQuark® computer-based USB spirometer will be used for FVC evaluation. The person will be asked to take a few normal breaths, then take as deep a breath as possible, and then exhale forcefully and quickly without waiting. The test will be terminated by instructing the participant to take a deep breath after exhaling for at least six seconds.	Baseline
Pulmonary Function Tests- FEV1	Evaluation of Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) MicroQuark® computer-based USB spirometer will be used for FEV1 evaluation. The person will be asked to take a few normal breaths, then take as deep a breath as possible, and then exhale forcefully and quickly without waiting. The test will be terminated by instructing the participant to take a deep breath after exhaling for at least six seconds.	Baseline
Pulmonary Function Tests- PEF	Evaluation of Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) MicroQuark® computer-based USB spirometer will be used for PEF evaluation. The person will be asked to take a few normal breaths, then take as deep a breath as possible, and then exhale forcefully and quickly without waiting. The test will be terminated by instructing the participant to take a deep breath after exhaling for at least six seconds.	Baseline
Pulmonary Function Tests- MVV	Maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) MicroQuark® computer-based USB spirometer will be used for MVV evaluation. Then the participant will take the disposable bacteria filter mouthpiece between his lips and holds it tightly. The person will be asked to deeply and rapidly breaths for 10 to 15 seconds.	Baseline
Respiratory Muscle Strength	During the measurements, the nose of the individual participating in the study will be covered with a nose clip. During the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) measurement, the participants will be asked to inspire quickly and deeply with maximum effort after maximum expiration. For maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), the participant will be asked to expire quickly and deeply after maximum inspiration.	Baseline
Sport performance	Subjects run back and forth on a 20 m course and must touch the 20 m line; at the same time a sound signal is emitted from a prerecorded tape. Frequency of the sound signals is increased 0.5 km h-1 each minute from a starting speed of 8.5 km h-1. When the subject can no longer follow the pace, the test is stopped.	Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Nigde Omer Halisdemir University
• Collaborators: Gazi University
• Investigators: Study Director: Nevin A. Güzel, Prof. Dr., Gazi University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 27, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): March 27, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 25, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 28, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 26, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Aspiration
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024 - 41

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No