Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Musculoskeletal Disorders

Background:Policing is characterized by high occupational stress that may lead to changes in gait and posture. As policemen need good physical and psychological abilities to cope with their work, it is important to identify potential musculoskeletal disorders so that preventive strategies could be developed.Purpose: this study investigated the severity of forward head posture (FHP) in Egyptian policemen. Furthermore, this study investigated the association between the duration of service and the severity of FHP.Participants: Forty - five policemen and forty-five matched control subjects. FHP severity was assessed by measuring the CVA and gaze angles; using the photogrammetric method. Egyptian policemen and matched control groups showed no significant differences in CVA (p-value = 0.99), whereas, gaze angle was different between the two groups, smaller in policemen group than matched control group (p-value < 0.01).Furthermore, within the policemen group, a weak positive correlation was found between the service duration and CVA and gaze angles. Egyptian policemen showed evidence of upper cervical posture deviation based on altered gaze angle compared with matched control group. However pearson correlation showed a weak positive correlation between the service duration in months and CVA and gaze angles

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