Effect of a Corrective Exercise Program on Head and Shoulder Alignment and Balance of Women With Cervicogenic Headache and Forward Head and Rounded Shoulder Posture

Defects in the alignment of head and shoulder and consequently shoulder girdle are highly prevalent with a variety of negative effects such as cervicogenic headache. The present study aims to investigate the effect of a 12-week corrective exercise program on head and shoulder alignment and balance in women with cervicogenic headache and Forward Head and Rounded Shoulder Posture (c).

Participants were 32 women with cervicogenic headache and FHRSP who were selected purposefully. The sample size was determined using GPower software, considering a test power of 80%, a confidence interval of 95%, and an effect size of 0.9. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n=16, Mean±SD age= 42.4±36.12 years; Mean±SD height= 49.5±162.93 cm, and Mean±SD weight=69.3±25.6 kg) and control (n=16, Mean±SD age= 44.4±93.35 years; Mean±SD height=84.3±162.12 cm, and Mean±SD weight: 58.62±68.3 kg). The balance was evaluated in four modes using the Biodex device and imaging method (lateral view) was used to measure the angles of forward head and rounded shoulder. The intervention was presented for 12 weeks. All tests were repeated after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v. 24 software using paired t-test and independent t-test to evaluate the within-group and between-group differences, respectively.

After completing the exercises, head and shoulder angles and balance in both groups improved significantly (p < 0.05). Between-group comparison of post-test scores showed that the three variables improved more in the exercise group compared with the control group (P=0.0001).

The corrective exercise program can improve the head and shoulder alignment and balance of women with cervicogenic headache. Therefore, these exercises are recommended to patients with cervicogenic headaches and FHRSP.