Effect of forward head posture on sensorimotor integration / Shimaa Taha AbuElkasem ; Supervised Neveen Abdellatif Abdelraouf , Neveen Abdellatif Abdelraouf , Ibrahim Moustafa Moustafa

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Basic Science

Back ground: Forward head posture (FHP) is a common type of postural abnormality seen clinically. Repetitive strain injuries , repetitive muscular activity and dysfunction which are common found in FHP are playing a role in altering the sensorimotor integration (SMI). The purpose :This study was conducted to measure the effect of FHP and subsequent typing task on SMI. Methods: Sixty volunteers subjects (18-25 years) participated in the study, 30 normal subjects with CVA anglefrom 49{u00B0} to 59{u00B0} are in group A (normal), 30 forward head subjects with CVA angle{u2264}49 are in group B (forward head) measured by CVA angle . Cortical and sub cortical amplitude (N20-P25, N30-P22, N24-P22and N18-P14) of somatosensorty evoked potential (SSEPs) were recorded for both groups after stimulation of right median nerve before and after performing motor typing task. Results: Regarding the forward head posture: There was statistical significant increase in cortical amplitude of SSEPs in group (A) compared with group (B) as p value was {u2264}0.05 while there was no statistical difference in subcortical amplitude of SSEPs between group A and B as p value {u2265}0.05.Regarding the typing task: Within group analysis revealed that in group A there was significant increase in amplitude of cortical and sub cortical SSEP after typing task as p was {u2264} 0.05, In group B there was statistical significant increase between pre typing and post typing for cortical amplitude (N20-P25,N30-P22) P=0.001but there was no statistical difference for cortical (N24-P22) and sub cortical (N18-P14) as P=0.53 and P=0.92. Between groups analysis revealed there was statistical significant increase in post typing cortical and subcortical amplitude of SSEPs in group A compared with group B as p value{u2264}0.05. Conclusion: forward head posture attenuate the cortical amplitude of SSEPs while it has no effect on subcortical amplitude of SSEPs,which mean it cause change in the brain response to afferent input (SMI),Typing task in the presence of FHP decrease the post typing cortical and subcortical amplitude of SSEPS

Issued also as CD