The relationship between head posture and severity and disability of patients with neck pain
From: Manual Therapy Volume 13, Issue 2, April 2008, Pages 148-154
A cross-sectional correlation study to investigate the relationship between head posture with pain and disability in patients with neck pain.
Sixty-two subjects with neck pain and 52 normal subjects were recruited by convenience sampling. The forward head posture was measured via the craniovertebral angle by using the Head Posture Spinal Curvature Instrument. The Chinese version of Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire and Numeric Pain Rating Scale were used to assess neck pain disability and severity.
There was a significant difference in the craniovertebral angle between subjects with and without neck pain. There is moderate negative correlation between craniovertebral angle and neck disability. Patients with small craniovertebral angle have a greater forward head posture, and the greater the forward head posture, the greater the disability.