This study investigates the effects of specific corrective exercises on EMG of masticatory and cervical muscles in individuals with forward head posture. The study's design will be a retrospective, double- blinded, randomized controlled trial. The participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: the exercise group and the control group. The training groups will perform a program consisting of two strengthening (deep cervical flexors and shoulder retractors) and two stretchings (cervical extensors and pectoral muscles) exercises. This exercise program will be repeated 4 times per week for 10 weeks, and each session lasted 30 minutes.
The pre/post assessment of forward head posture will measure by using craniovertebral angle CVA. While the muscle activity EMG of the masseter, temporalis, splenius, upper trapezius, and SCM will measure pre and post-assessment using a biopic data acquisition system.
1. Participants aged 18- 30 years. 2. Presence of forward head posture, defined as CVA of less than 50° with no symptoms of neck pain [18, 19]. 3. No treatment for TMD or cervical symptoms (e.g., medication, physical therapy, or intra-articular injection) within the previous 2 weeks.
1. Current or previous diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder (TMD), or the presence of TMD-related signs or symptoms (e.g., joint sounds, restricted mouth opening, or orofacial pain) during screening.
Parallel
Specific strengthening and stretching exercise
Other interventionThe program consisted of two strengthening (deep cervical flexors and shoulder retractors) and two stretching (cervical extensors and pectoral muscles) exercises based on Harman and Mostafa et al's approach. This exercise program will be repeated 4 times per week for 10 weeks, and each session lasted for 30 minutes.
General Exercise
Other interventionThe program will consist of regular general postural exercises such as postural awareness exercises as well as general strengthening exercises such as range of motion exercises for the upper quadrant. The program will also be repeated 4 times per week for 10 weeks, with each session lasting 30 minutes
EMG activity
Electrodes will be placed on the muscle belly parallel to the direction of muscle fibers. The distance between the two electrodes was 2 cm. The subjects will be instructed to complete maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of clenching the teeth for a period of 3 s and repeated twice. The average of the two trials of MVC will be used for further analysis. The subjects will be seated comfortably in a chair (---cm height).
craniovertebral angle
Forward head posture will be assess by the craniovertebral angle, one of the most reliable tool for evaluating the FHP. The examiner takes 2 lateral photographs of the subject in standing position, according to Shaghayegh fard et al. A digital camera will be positioned on a tripod at a distance of 0.8m from the subject at shoulder height. Two land mark will be taken, the spinous process of C7 and the tragus of ear. A horizontal line will be drawn passing through C7 making a right angle with the vertical. Then, the angle between the line connecting C7 spinous process with the tragus of the ear and the horizontal line.
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