Causes, effects and treatment of forward head posture. Systematic literature review

Abstract

The human cervical spine, with its complex structure, is designed to serve unique biomechanical functions. In addition to providing support and protection for the skull, the cervical spine also acts as a shock absorber for brain structures. Mechanically, it transfers weight and facilitates head flexion movements. To effectively carry out its function, proper alignment of the head’s posture with the body’s vertical center of gravity is necessary to minimize pressure and tension on spinal muscles. When continuous activities involving head restraint or forward bending cause an anterior translation of the head over extended periods of time, it can lead to a condition known as forward head posture (FHP). Prolonged FHP can result in injuries to muscles, tendons, and ligaments within both the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine, resulting in various health issues such as neck pain, shoulder pain or discomfort in the upper thoracic scapular segment. The aim of this study was to determine the impact, causes, and management strategies that can be implemented when forward posture occurs in individuals. The data used for this research were obtained from accredited journals such as Mendeley and PubMed. Articles were searched based on keywords related to forward head posture and then filtered according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Ten out of 140 articles were selected as primary sources for this study. The results indicate that one significant impact of forward head posture is acute neck pain, which primarily affects an individual’s balance negatively. Known causes of forward head posture include engaging in work that involves repetitive bending or maintaining a static position where one leans their neck forwards continuously over prolonged periods. Finally, the recommended management approach when dealing with forward head posture is treatment through exercise therapy, such as Chin tuck exercise, McKenzie Neck Exercise, and Forward Head Posture Exercise.