Impact of Forward Head Posture on Postural Stability and Gait Kinematics

May 17, 2026 updated by: Yasmin Magdy Othman, Cairo University

Impact of Forward Head Posture on Postural Stability and Kinematic Gait Characteristics: A Comparative Cross Sectional Study

  1. Evaluate postural stability in subjects with forward head posture versus matching controls.
  2. Evaluate gait parameters in subjects with forward head posture versus matching controls.
  3. Investigate the correlation between postural stability and kinematic gait parameters in each group.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

Forward head posture (FHP) is a common sagittal-plane postural deviation characterized by anterior translation of the head relative to the trunk. It has become increasingly prevalent among young adults due to prolonged use of computers, smartphones, and other digital devices. FHP has been associated with musculoskeletal dysfunction, altered cervical biomechanics, impaired proprioception, and deficits in postural control.

Recent evidence indicates that altered cervical alignment may influence not only local cervical function but also whole-body balance control and locomotor performance. Changes in head and neck alignment may disrupt vestibular, visual, and somatosensory integration, thereby affecting postural stability and gait efficiency. Although previous studies have independently investigated the effects of FHP on balance or gait, the relationship between postural stability and detailed kinematic gait characteristics in individuals with FHP remains insufficiently understood.

Therefore, this comparative cross-sectional study will investigate the impact of forward head posture on postural stability and kinematic gait characteristics in asymptomatic young adults.

A total of 66 participants of both sexes, aged between 18 and 35 years, will be recruited and assigned into two groups:

Forward Head Posture Group: participants with craniovertebral angle less than 50 degrees.

Control Group: participants with normal cervical posture.

Each participant will attend one laboratory-based assessment session.

Assessment Procedures

  1. Postural Assessment

    Craniovertebral angle will be measured using standardized lateral photography and a smartphone-based digital angle measurement application for group allocation.

  2. Postural Stability Assessment

    Dynamic postural stability will be assessed using the Biodex Balance System. Participants will perform bilateral stance testing at stability level 6 for three trials of 20 seconds each, with 10-second rest intervals. Outcome measures will include:

    Overall Stability Index Anterior-Posterior Stability Index Mediolateral Stability Index

  3. Gait Assessment

Spatiotemporal gait characteristics will be assessed using the Biodex Gait Trainer. Following a familiarization period, participants will walk under two testing conditions:

Self-selected comfortable walking speed Fast walking speed

Outcome measures will include:

Walking velocity Step length Cadence Symmetry indices Temporal gait parameters Primary Objective

To compare postural stability and gait characteristics between young adults with forward head posture and healthy controls.

Secondary Objective

To investigate the relationship between postural stability measures and gait parameters within each group.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics will be calculated for all variables. Between-group comparisons will be performed using one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Correlation analysis will be performed to examine associations between postural stability and gait parameters. Statistical significance will be set at p < 0.05.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

66

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Yasmin Magdy Othman Yasmin Magdy Othman, Bachelor
  • Phone Number: 01061051254
  • Email: ymothman@msa.edu.eg

Study Locations

  • Egypt
      • Giza, Egypt
        • Recruiting
        • Cairo university
        • Contact:
          • Cairo university Cairo University
          • Phone Number: 0237617691
          • Email: eth.com@pt.cu.edu

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of adult males and females recruited from the university community and surrounding local community. Participants aged 18-35 years will be screened for eligibility. Eligible participants will be allocated into two cohorts based on head posture assessment using craniovertebral angle measurement: individuals with forward head posture and healthy individuals with normal head posture. Participants must be able to walk independently without assistive devices and have no history of neurological, musculoskeletal, vestibular, or visual disorders that may affect balance or gait performance.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Cranio-vertebral angle less than 50◦
  • Age from 18-35 years old (Young adults)
  • BMI from 18.5-24.9
  • Participants can walk independently without assistive devices

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals are excluded if they have had:

    • Neck trauma, recent fractures, or Surgery or any underlying neurological or systemic conditions affecting the neck
    • Pregnancy or Malignancy
    • any inability to comprehend or respond to study assessments
    • Any known respiratory or cardiovascular conditions that might affect the results of gait analysis
    • Vestibular problems, visual problems, and sensory impairment affecting balance
    • If they are undergoing current physical therapy or ergonomic intervention for FHP

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Forward Head Posture Group
Participants with clinically identified forward head posture based on craniovertebral angle assessment. Postural stability and gait kinematic characteristics will be assessed during standardized testing procedures.
Control Group
Age- and sex-matched healthy participants with normal head posture. Postural stability and gait kinematic characteristics will be assessed using the same standardized procedures.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Walking speed
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Kinematic Gait characteristic, measured in meter/second
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Overall stability index
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
one of the postural stability outcome measures, Higher values indicate poorer balance
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Step Cycle
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Kinematic Gait characteristic measured in cycle/sec
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Mediolateral Stability index
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
one of the postural stability index outcome measures, Higher values indicate poorer balance
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Anteroposterior Stability index
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
one of the postural stability outcome measures, Higher values indicate poorer balance in the anteroposterior directions
through study completion, an average of 1 year
Step Length
Time Frame: through study completion, an average of 1 year
Kinematic gait characteristic, measured in cm
through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Cairo University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

May 11, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 11, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 22, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 17, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • P.T.REC/012/006413

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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