Relationship Between Forward Head Posture and Sagittal Lumbopelvic Alignment Among Smartphone Users

June 4, 2026 updated by: Deraya University

Forward head posture is a common postural abnormality characterized by anterior positioning of the head in the sagittal plane. This posture may increase biomechanical stress on the cervical spine and may be associated with compensatory changes in spinal and lumbopelvic alignment.

This observational study will investigate the relationship between forward head posture and sagittal lumbopelvic alignment among male smartphone users aged 18 to 35 years. Craniovertebral angle will be measured using the APECS mobile application, and sagittal lumbopelvic alignment parameters will be measured using the Spine3D LiDAR system.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Forward head posture is considered one of the commonly occurring musculoskeletal postural abnormalities. It is characterized by an anterior position of the head relative to the body's line of gravity in the sagittal plane. This altered posture may increase mechanical load on cervical joints, ligaments, and surrounding soft tissues.

Sagittal spinal and lumbopelvic alignment are important components of global postural balance. Changes in one spinal region may influence adjacent regions through compensatory mechanisms that help maintain horizontal gaze and keep the body's center of gravity within the base of support.

Smartphone use is commonly associated with prolonged neck flexion and altered head posture. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between craniovertebral angle, as an indicator of forward head posture, and sagittal lumbopelvic alignment parameters among smartphone users.

A total of 85 male participants with forward head posture will be recruited from outpatient clinics and students of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Sphinx University. Forward head posture will be assessed using craniovertebral angle measured by the APECS mobile application. Sagittal lumbopelvic alignment will be assessed using the Spine3D LiDAR system by Sensor Medica, including lordotic angle, lumbar arrow, and trunk inclination.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

85

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Egypt
    • Menia Governorate
      • Minya, Menia Governorate, Egypt
        • Deraya university, faculty of physical therapy

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

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Male smartphone users aged 18 to 35 years with forward head posture, recruited from outpatient clinics and students of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Sphinx University. Eligible participants use smartphones for at least 4 hours per day for at least 6 months and have craniovertebral angle equal to or less than 50 degrees. Participants are medically stable and free from diagnosed musculoskeletal or neurological conditions.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male participants aged 18 to 35 years.
  • Craniovertebral angle equal to or less than 50 degrees, measured photographically using the APECS mobile application.
  • Body mass index from 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m².
  • Smartphone use of at least 4 hours per day for at least 6 months.
  • Asymptomatic participants without diagnosed musculoskeletal or neurological conditions.
  • Medically stable participants.
  • Participants willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of trauma.
  • Major psychological problems.
  • Previous surgery involving the spine, abdomen, or shoulders.
  • Spinal deformity.
  • Lower limb deformity.
  • Low back pain.
  • Current or chronic pain in the neck, back, or pelvis.
  • Obesity.
  • Concomitant systemic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus, sickle cell anemia, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, or cancer.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Degenerative or radicular cervical spine disorders, including cervical spondylosis, cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical radiculopathy, or cervical spinal stenosis.
  • Degenerative or radicular lumbar spine disorders, including herniated disc or lumbar spinal stenosis.
  • Participation in regular postural correction therapy or specific spine-focused exercise programs within the previous 6 months.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Male Smartphone Users With Forward Head Posture
Male participants aged 18 to 35 years who use smartphones for at least 4 hours per day for at least 6 months and have forward head posture, defined by craniovertebral angle equal to or less than 50 degrees. Participants will be assessed for craniovertebral angle and sagittal lumbopelvic alignment parameters during a single assessment session.
Diagnostic test: Craniovertebral Angle Assessment Using APECS Mobile Application
The craniovertebral angle will be measured using the APECS mobile application to assess forward head posture. Participants with a craniovertebral angle equal to or less than 50 degrees will be considered to have forward head posture.
Diagnostic test: Sagittal Lumbopelvic Alignment Assessment Using Spine3D LiDAR
Sagittal lumbopelvic alignment will be assessed using the Spine3D LiDAR system by Sensor Medica. The measured parameters will include lordotic angle, lumbar arrow, and trunk inclination.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Correlation Coefficient Between Craniovertebral Angle Measured by APECS Mobile Application and Lordotic Angle Measured by Spine3D LiDAR
Time Frame: single assessment session at enrollment
The Pearson correlation coefficient will be calculated between craniovertebral angle and lordotic angle. Craniovertebral angle will be measured in degrees using the APECS mobile application. Lordotic angle will be measured in degrees using the Spine3D LiDAR system by Sensor Medica. The correlation coefficient is unitless.
single assessment session at enrollment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Correlation Coefficient Between Craniovertebral Angle Measured by APECS Mobile Application and Lumbar Arrow Measured by Spine3D LiDAR
Time Frame: single assessment session at enrollment
The Pearson correlation coefficient will be calculated between craniovertebral angle and lumbar arrow. Craniovertebral angle will be measured in degrees using the APECS mobile application. Lumbar arrow will be measured in millimeters using the Spine3D LiDAR system by Sensor Medica. The correlation coefficient is unitless.
single assessment session at enrollment
Correlation Coefficient Between Craniovertebral Angle Measured by APECS Mobile Application and Trunk Inclination Measured by Spine3D LiDAR
Time Frame: single assessment session at enrollment
The Pearson correlation coefficient will be calculated between craniovertebral angle and trunk inclination. Craniovertebral angle will be measured in degrees using the APECS mobile application. Trunk inclination will be measured in degrees using the Spine3D LiDAR system by Sensor Medica. The correlation coefficient is unitless.
single assessment session at enrollment

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Deraya University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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 (Actual)

June 5, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 5, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

May 5, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 4, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 8, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 8, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 4, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • FHP-LPA-Smartphone-2025

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

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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