Effect of foot exercise program applied to patients with forward head posture on head and neck alignment

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a foot exercise program, designed to improve foot arch, on head and neck alignment in individuals with forward head posture. Method: The study involved randomly assigning 20 participants to an experimental group, which followed a foot exercise program, and 20 participants to a control group, which engaged in a neck exercise program. The study lasted for a total of 5 weeks, with both groups participating 5 days a week. The experimental group conducted 20 minutes of deep neck flexor strengthening exercises and 20 minutes of foot exercises, totaling 40 minutes per session. The control group performed deep neck flexor strengthening exercises for 20 minutes twice a day, also totaling 40 minutes. Results: The study revealed a significant reduction in the cranio-vertebral angle before and after the experiment in the experimental group (p<0.1). Similarly, the control group exhibited a significant decrease in the cranio-vertebral angle before and after the experiment (p<0.1). When comparing the change in the cranio-vertebral angle before and after the experiment between the experimental and control groups, the experimental group demonstrated a more substantial change (p<0.05). Conclusion: The group that implemented the foot exercise program with individuals suffering from forward head posture displayed a more significant decrease in the cranio-vertebral angle compared to the group that followed the neck exercise program. Consequently, this study suggests that applying a foot exercise program to individuals with forward head posture can contribute to the correction of their posture alignment.