Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Forward head posture (FHP) is associated with reduced stability limits, impaired balance performance, and compromised cervical proprioception. This study investigated the effects of capital flexion exercise (CFE) on the craniovertebral angle (CVA), trunk...

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Main Authors: Dong-A Hyeon, Jeong-Seon Kim, Hyoung-Won Lim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Medicina
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/5/797
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author Dong-A Hyeon
Jeong-Seon Kim
Hyoung-Won Lim
author_facet Dong-A Hyeon
Jeong-Seon Kim
Hyoung-Won Lim
author_sort Dong-A Hyeon
collection DOAJ
description <i>Background and Objectives</i>: Forward head posture (FHP) is associated with reduced stability limits, impaired balance performance, and compromised cervical proprioception. This study investigated the effects of capital flexion exercise (CFE) on the craniovertebral angle (CVA), trunk control, balance, and gait in chronic stroke patients with forward head posture. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Twenty-six subjects were randomly assigned to the CFE group or the control group (n = 13 each). The CFE group underwent a familiarization process and performed CFE for 9 min per session, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, as well as the existing neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT). The control group received only the existing NDT. <i>Results</i>: The CVA, the Korean version of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (K-PASS), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) improved after the intervention in the CFE group (<i>p </i>< 0.05). In the control group, CVA and TUG improved after the intervention (<i>p </i>< 0.05). The CVA (<i>d</i> = 1.34, <i>p</i> = 0.002), K-PASS (<i>d</i> = 1.36, <i>p</i> = 0.000), and BBS (<i>d</i> = 1.68, <i>p</i> = 0.000) values of the CFE group showed statistically significant improvement compared to the control group. Although TUG improved in the CFE group, the between-group difference was not statistically significant (<i>d</i> = −0.28, <i>p</i> = 0.467). <i>Conclusions</i>: This study suggests that capital flexion exercises effectively improve craniovertebral angle, trunk control, and balance in chronic stroke patients with forward head posture.
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spelling doaj-art-c79df5db7942485c855e293580054ee72025-08-20T01:56:28ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-04-0161579710.3390/medicina61050797Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled TrialDong-A Hyeon0Jeong-Seon Kim1Hyoung-Won Lim2Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physical Therapy, Gangdong University, Eumseong-gun 27690, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Forward head posture (FHP) is associated with reduced stability limits, impaired balance performance, and compromised cervical proprioception. This study investigated the effects of capital flexion exercise (CFE) on the craniovertebral angle (CVA), trunk control, balance, and gait in chronic stroke patients with forward head posture. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: Twenty-six subjects were randomly assigned to the CFE group or the control group (n = 13 each). The CFE group underwent a familiarization process and performed CFE for 9 min per session, 3 times a week for 6 weeks, as well as the existing neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT). The control group received only the existing NDT. <i>Results</i>: The CVA, the Korean version of the Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (K-PASS), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG) improved after the intervention in the CFE group (<i>p </i>< 0.05). In the control group, CVA and TUG improved after the intervention (<i>p </i>< 0.05). The CVA (<i>d</i> = 1.34, <i>p</i> = 0.002), K-PASS (<i>d</i> = 1.36, <i>p</i> = 0.000), and BBS (<i>d</i> = 1.68, <i>p</i> = 0.000) values of the CFE group showed statistically significant improvement compared to the control group. Although TUG improved in the CFE group, the between-group difference was not statistically significant (<i>d</i> = −0.28, <i>p</i> = 0.467). <i>Conclusions</i>: This study suggests that capital flexion exercises effectively improve craniovertebral angle, trunk control, and balance in chronic stroke patients with forward head posture.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/5/797strokeforward head posturecapital flexion exercisepostural controlgait
spellingShingle Dong-A Hyeon
Jeong-Seon Kim
Hyoung-Won Lim
Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Medicina
stroke
forward head posture
capital flexion exercise
postural control
gait
title Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_fullStr Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_short Effects of Capital Flexion Exercise on Craniovertebral Angle, Trunk Control, Balance, and Gait in Stroke Patients with Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial
title_sort effects of capital flexion exercise on craniovertebral angle trunk control balance and gait in stroke patients with forward head posture a randomized controlled trial
topic stroke
forward head posture
capital flexion exercise
postural control
gait
url https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/5/797
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