Effect of scapular stabilization exercise on neck alignment and muscle activity in patients with forward head posture.
Jeong-Il Kang, Hyun-Ho Choi, Dae-Keun Jeong and 3 others
PMID 29950768WHAT IT FOUND
Both scapular stabilization and neck stabilization exercises improved neck alignment and muscle activity in patients with forward head posture.
Scapular stabilization produced greater change in a neck alignment angle and in lower trapezius and serratus anterior activation.
Key findings
01Both groups improved on neck alignment and muscle activity measures after 4 weeks.
02The scapular stabilization group had greater between-group change in craniovertebral angle than the neck stabilization group.
03The scapular stabilization group had greater between-group increases in lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity.
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 only 30 patients from one institution, so it may not apply to other populations. The intervention lasted only 4 weeks, and the authors say they could not control patients' daily lives, other pills, or other interventions. Both groups received active exercise, so the study cannot show whether either exercise was better than no exercise. Outcomes were neck angles and muscle activity, not pain or function.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the Sehan University Research Fund in 2018, and the authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that scapular stabilization is proven to work for forward head posture. Both groups received active exercise, both improved, and only some outcomes favored scapular stabilization. The study measured neck angles and muscle activity over 4 weeks in 30 patients, not pain or function.