Relationship Between Neck Pain and Neck Disability with Activity of Neck Muscles in Female Students with Forward Head Posture

Background and Objectives:  Forward head posture (FHP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder among students and can lead to significant neck pain. This posture, caused by poor body alignment and prolonged sitting, particularly in students, may result in pathological changes in the activity of neck muscles. The main aim of this study is to examine the relationship between neck pain and functional neck disability with the activity of superficial neck muscles in female students with FHP.
Methods:  A total of 50 female students aged 12 to 18 years with forward head posture were selected for this study. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to record the activity of superficial muscles, including the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. The VAS (Visual Analog Scale) was used to assess pain levels, and the Neck Disability Index (NDI) was employed to evaluate functional disability. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23, and Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationship between neck pain, functional disability, and muscle activity. A significance level of 0.05 was considered.
Findings: : Pearson correlation results indicated a direct and significant relationship between superficial neck muscle activity and neck pain and disability (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that correcting forward head posture and strengthening the superficial neck muscles can lead to a reduction in pain and an improvement in the functional performance of students with this condition. It is recommended that rehabilitation and corrective programs pay special attention to reducing hyperactivity in global muscles and strengthening local muscles.