Correlation between pulmonary functions and respiratory muscle activity in patients with forward head posture.
Jeong-Il Kang, Dae-Keun Jeong, Hyun Choi
PMID 29410583WHAT IT FOUND
In 24 patients with forward head posture, larger neck angle was linked to higher forced vital capacity, while smaller neck angle was linked to more neck muscle activity during breathing.
Key findings
01The craniovertebral angle was positively correlated with forced vital capacity (r=0.63, p<0.05).
02The craniovertebral angle was negatively correlated with sternocleidomastoid muscle activity (r=-0.77, p<0.01) and anterior scalene muscle activity (r=-0.66, p<0.01).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included 24 patients aged 25 to 35 from a hospital in Jeollanam-do Province, South Korea, so it does not describe other age groups or settings. People with congenital neck or thoracic anomalies, severe surgical or neurological disorders, hip or knee flexion limitations, or pain during abdominal contractions were excluded, so the result applies to a selected group. The study measured correlations, so it cannot show cause and effect. The text reports forced vital capacity correlations with sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene activity as positive (r=0.71 and r=0.59), but the table shows these correlations as negative. The study measured only the right sternocleidomastoid and anterior scalene muscles, so it does not describe both sides.
Declared interests
The paper states that it was supported by the Sehan University Research Fund in 2018.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that correcting forward head posture will improve breathing. The study only measured correlations in 24 patients and did not test an intervention.