Physical Therapy Korea
pISSN 1225-8962
eISSN 2287-982X
Physical Therapy Korea
Characteristics of studies selected
| Study (y) | Study design | Subjects characteristic | Intervention description | Outcome variable | Main outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim and Kang [19] | Two-group pretest-posttest design, RCT | 32 office workers between 20s and 60s with FHP (CVA < 53°) and neck pain (VAS ≥ 4) Study group (n = 16) Control group (n = 16) |
Study group: Cervical stabilization exercise and stretching exercise. Control group: Cervical self-myofascial release exercise and stretching exercise. Both groups performed exercises for 40 min/d, 3 times/wk for 6 weeks. | CVA, VAS, NDI, CROM, respiratory pressure and function | The intra-group comparison showed significant differences in VAS and NDI of both groups post-intervention. CVA was significantly improved post-intervention in the study group only. The inter-group comparison showed significant differences in NDI. |
| Kang and Kim [20] | Prospective, RCT, two-group pretest-posttest design | 32 school teachers with FHP and neck pain (CVA < 53°, VAS ≥ 4) Study group (n = 16) Control group (n = 16) |
Study group: Scapular stabilization exercise and thoracic extension exercise. Control group: Cervical self-myofascial release exercise and stretching exercise. Both groups performed exercises for 40 min/d, 3 times/wk for 6 weeks. | VAS, NDI, CVA, CROM, respiratory pressure, pulmonary functions | The intra-group comparisons showed that VAS in both groups were significantly different after the intervention. The change in CVA was significant only in the study group. The inter-group comparisons showed a significant difference in VAS, and CVA. |
| Park et al. [24] | Two-group pretest-posttest design, RCT | 30 patients in 20s and 30s with FHP and neck pain (Cobb’s angle ≤ 35°, NDI ≥ 15) Study group (n = 15) Control group (n = 15) |
Study group: Corrective exercises and TECAR therapy. Control group: Only corrective exercise. Both groups performed intervention for 40 min/d, 3 times/wk for 2 weeks. | CVA, NDI, VAS, pressure pain threshold | Both groups showed significant differences in CVA, NDI, and VAS. The study group significantly improved compared to the control group in NDI, and VAS, except CVA. |
| Hyun and Choi [17] | Pretest-posttest control group design, RCT | 17 female adults under 45 with neck pain and FHP (CVA < 50°) Exercise group (n = 9) Control group (n = 8) |
Exercise group: Cervical stabilization exercise and active stretching exercise were conducted 10 min/d, 3 times/wk for 4 weeks. The control group did not participate in the exercise program. | CVA, CROM, NDI, NRS | There were significant differences between groups after the intervention in CVA, NDI, and NRS. The intra-group comparison showed significant differences in CVA, NDI, and NRS in the exercise group only. |
| Nam et al. [21] | Three-group pretest-posttest design, RCT | 30 college students in 20s with neck pain and FHP (CVA ≤ 52°) Group I (n = 10) Group II (n = 10) Group III (n = 10) |
Group I: General physical therapy. Group II: General physical therapy and self-stretching. Group III: General physical therapy and joint mobilization. All groups participated in intervention 3 times/wk for 4 weeks. | VAS, CVA, autonomic system function | In Group II, VAS and CVA showed significant changes. In comparison between Group I and II was a difference in VAS and CVA. In comparison between Group II and III was a difference in VAS. |
| Kim and Park [23] | Three-group pretest-posttest design, RCT | 30 college students in 20s with FHP and neck pain (CVA ≤ 50°, 2 ≤ VAS ≤ 5) Group I (n = 10) Group II (n = 10) Group III (n = 10) |
Group I: Horseback riding simulator exercise. Group II: Sling exercise. Group III: Kendall exercise. All groups performed 3 times/wk for 6 weeks. | CVA, VAS | Neck pain was reduced significantly after intervention in all three groups. CVA in all groups increased significantly after intervention. |
| Song et al. [16] | Two-group pretest-posttest design, RCT | 40 adults in 30s and 40s with FHP (31°≤ CVA ≤ 59°) and neck pain Group I (n = 20) Group II (n = 20) |
Group I: Neck stabilization exercise. Group II: PNF neck flexion and extension pattern exercise. Each group conducted 30 min/d, 3 times/wk for 4 weeks. | CVA, KNDI, anterior limit of stability, posterior limit of stability | There were significant effects in CVA and KNDI of both groups post-intervention. There was a significant difference in KNDI in Group I compared to Group II. |
| Kim and Kang [22] | Two-group pretest-posttest design, RCT | 26 patients in 40s with FHP and neck pain (CVA ≤ 52°, VAS ≥ 3) Study group (n = 13) Control group (n = 13) |
Study group: PNF cervical stabilization exercise. Control group: Traditional physical therapy. Each group participated in the intervention 3 times/wk for 6 weeks. | VAS, CVA, KNDI | Both groups showed significant differences in VAS, KNDI, and CVA. The study group showed more significant improvements in pain, CVA, and KNDI than those of the control group. |
| Seo et al. [25] | Pretest-posttest control group design, RCT | 28 adults in 20s with FHP and neck pain Exercise group (n = 14) Control group (n = 14) |
Only the exercise group participated in the exercise program including 8 types of self-stretching and performed 3 times/wk for 8 weeks. | CVA, CRA, VAS, neck tilt angle, neck load | After 8 weeks of intervention, there was a significant improvement in CVA and VAS in the exercise group. |
| Park and Jung [18] | Two-group pretest-posttest design, RCT | 34 subjects in 30s with neck pain and FHP (VAS ≥ 3, CVA < 53°) Study group (n = 17) Control group (n = 17) |
Study group: Exercise program (Thoracic extension and Lower trapezius strengthening exercises) and Dynamic taping. Control group: Exercise program only. The program was conducted for 55 min/d, 3 times/wk for 4 weeks. | CVA, CRA, VAS, NDI, SF-12, HIT-6, upper trapezius muscle tone | Both groups showed significant differences before and after the intervention in VAS, NDI, and CVA. Moreover, a significant difference in NDI was observed between the two groups. |
RCT, randomized controlled trial; FHP, forward head posture; CVA, craniovertebral angle; VAS, visual analogue scale; NDI, neck disability index; CROM, cervical range of motion; NRS, numerical rating scale; KNDI, Korean version of neck disability index; CRA, cranial rotation angle; PNF, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation; SF-12, short form-12 health survey questionnaire; HIT-6, headache impact test-6; TECAR, transfer electrode capacitative and resistive