Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Basic Science

Background: Head positioning is crucial to a wide range of activities, including visual and auditory orientation, feeding and vestibular function. Neck muscles produce head movements, maintain posture and resist undesired perturbations. Balance is an underrated principle of everyday functioning. It keeps body upright, allows to walk without assistance and helps prevent injury, maintaining balance requires coordination of input from multiple sensory systems including the vestibular, somatosensory, and visual systems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different head positions on postural stability in normal subjects. Subjects: one hundred normal subjects (54 females and 46 males) their age ranged from 20 to 35 years, and with BMI "Body Mass Index" ranged from 20.04 to 24.98 Kg/m² were assessed for postural stability from five different head positions. Method: subjects were in one group and assessed as one shot for postural stability by BIODEX Balance System from five different head positions (neutral position, 20{u00B0} of head flexion, 40{u00B0} of head flexion, 20{u00B0} of head extension, and 30{u00B0} of head extension), test applied for twenty seconds with feet supported on platform and head stabilized by a collar in each certain degree which detected by Cervical Range of Motion Device. Results: there was statistical significant effect of different head positions on postural stability and extension head position had the higher stability index which mean postural stability decrease with extension head position. Conclusion: different head positions have great impact on postural stability which should be considered in assessment and rehabilitation for patients with cervical and balance disorders

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