Background: The purpose of this study was to examine whether performing cervical stabilization exercises prior to smartphone use could positively influence postural alignment, pain, and cervical mobility in individuals with forward head posture (FHP).
Objectives: To investigate the immediate effects of cervical stabilization exercises performed before smartphone use on craniovertebral angle (CVA), cranial rotation angle (CRA), pain, and cervical range of motion (CROM) in individuals with FHP. Design: A randomized controlled trial.
Methods: Participants were randomly assigned into two groups: the control group (Con, n=15), which only vied smartphone videos, and the exercise group (Exp, n=15), which performed cervical stabilization exercises before smartphone viewing. All participants used a smartphone for 20 minutes and pre- and post-measurements included CVA, and CRA, CROM, and VAS for pain.
Results: The results demonstrated that participants who performed cervical stabilization exercises showed increased CVA and decreased CRA, suggesting an improvement in forward head alignment following smartphone use. In contrast, the control group exhibited decreased CVA, increased CRA, and elevated neck pain scores after smartphone viewing. Additionally, the control group showed a reduction in right lateral flexion range of motion, whereas no significant CROM changes were observed in the Exp group. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in CVA, CRA, and VAS, supporting the immediate protective effects of exercise.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that performing cervical stabilization exercises before smartphone use may help mitigate posture deterioration and pain induced by smartphone viewing. This indicates that pre-emptive cervical stabilization exercise could serve as an effective preventive strategy for individuals with FHP.