Forward Head PostureNCT06160245
Core Stabilization Exercises in Forward Head Posture
A study testing exercise therapy in people with Forward Head Posture, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
Based on the reviewed literature, Core Stabilization Exercises (CSEs) have been shown to have positive effects on patients with low back pain. To our knowledge, very few studies have examined the impact of CSEs on neck pain, particularly in patients with forward head posture (FHP), despite that several authors… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Forward Head Posture
- What is being tested?
- exercise therapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2023to 1 Apr 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- CVA less than 50 degrees/ neck pain for about 4 weeks
Who cannot join
- Vertebrobasilar insufficiency/ cervical surgery/ cervical or TMJ fracture
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Egypt1 site
Faculty of physical therapy, Cairo University & AXA One-Health clinics Korba branch
Giza
About this study
Official title: Effect of Core Stabilization Exercises on Cervical Sagittal Balance Parameters in Forward Head Posture
Based on the reviewed literature, Core Stabilization Exercises (CSEs) have been shown to have positive effects on patients with low back pain. To our knowledge, very few studies have examined the impact of CSEs on neck pain, particularly in patients with forward head posture (FHP), despite that several authors suggested that FHP may be caused by lumbopelvic malalignment.
Therefore, the purpose of the study is to assess how CSEs may affect the cervical sagittal balance parameters (CSB) in patient with FHP.
Read the detailed description
After the patient fills the consent form, the Craniovertebral angle will be measured by taking a photograph, then this photograph will be analysed by the KINOVEA software.
If the CVA is less than 50 degrees, he/she will have a lateral x-ray on the cervical spine to measure the radiographic variables of the CSB parameters. These variables will be assessed and quantified by Image J software.
The patients will be classified randomly into 2 groups, the intervention and control groups. The intervention will receive CSEs program and Postural Correction Exercises (PCEs) program, but control group will receive only PCEs program.
Both programs will be implemented for 6 weeks 3 times/ week and after 6 weeks, patients will be reassessed again to determine the difference.
- Conditions
- Forward Head Posture
- Being tested
- exercise therapy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
exercise therapyOther
core stabilization exercises
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| core stability exercise | Experimental | This group will receive core stabilization exercises ( MCGILL 2008), in addition to postural correction exercises described by (HARMAN 2005) Receives: Other: exercise therapy |
| traditional exercise | Active comparator | This group will receive only postural correction exercises described by (HARMAN 2005) Receives: Other: exercise therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
cervical sagittal vertical alignment
calculated by measuring the horizontal distance between the posterosuperior corner of the C7 vertebral body and a plumb line drawn from the centroid of C2
Measured: baseline, week 6
T1 slope angle
he angle formed by drawing a line along the superior endplate of T1 and horizontal reference line at the median sagittal cervical vertebra from the CT radiographs
Measured: baseline, week 6
craniovertebral angle
the intersection of a horizontal line passing through the C7 spinous process and a line joining the midpoint of the tragus of the ear to the skin overlying the C7 spinous process.
Measured: baseline, week 6
Secondary outcomes (2)
numerical pain rating scale
patients are asked to circle the number between 0 and 10, 0 and 20 or 0 and 100 that fits best to their pain intensity [1]. Zero usually represents 'no pain at all' whereas the upper limit represents 'the worst pain ever possible
Measured: baseline, week 6
neck disability index
a standard instrument for measuring self-rated disability due to neck pain
Measured: baseline, week 6
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Dec 2023
- Study start1 Dec 2023
- Primary completion1 Apr 2024
- Study completion1 Apr 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Forward Head PostureStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ahmed Mahmoud Mohamed Shabana, Cairo University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06160245
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CSEs in FHP
- Status last verified
- Aug 2024
- First submitted
- 29 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 21 Aug 2024
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Shabana AMM, Ashour RS, Yamany AS, Hanafy AF. Radiographic and clinical effects of core stabilization on cervical pain and sagittal balance in forward head posture: a randomized controlled trial. Asian Spine J. 2026 Jun;20(3):431-441. doi: 10.31616/asj.2025.0297. Epub 2026 Jan 6.
PubMed 41490718Shabana AMM, Hanafy AF, Yamany AS, Ashour RS. Effect of core stabilization exercises on cervical sagittal balance parameters in patients with forward head posture: a randomized controlled trial in Egypt. Asian Spine J. 2025 Feb;19(1):85-93. doi: 10.31616/asj.2024.0328. Epub 2025 Jan 20.
PubMed 39829179
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 21 Aug 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Core Stabilization Exercises on Cervical Sagittal Balance Parameters in Forward Head Posture
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06160245
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CSEs in FHP
- Conditions
- Forward Head Posture
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Based on the reviewed literature, Core Stabilization Exercises (CSEs) have been shown to have positive effects on patients with low back pain. To our knowledge, very few studies have examined the impact of CSEs on neck pain, particularly in patients with forward head posture (FHP), despite that several authors suggested that FHP may be caused by lumbopelvic malalignment.
Therefore, the purpose of the study is to assess how CSEs may affect the cervical sagittal balance parameters (CSB) in patient with FHP.
Detailed description
After the patient fills the consent form, the Craniovertebral angle will be measured by taking a photograph, then this photograph will be analysed by the KINOVEA software.
If the CVA is less than 50 degrees, he/she will have a lateral x-ray on the cervical spine to measure the radiographic variables of the CSB parameters. These variables will be assessed and quantified by Image J software.
The patients will be classified randomly into 2 groups, the intervention and control groups. The intervention will receive CSEs program and Postural Correction Exercises (PCEs) program, but control group will receive only PCEs program.
Both programs will be implemented for 6 weeks 3 times/ week and after 6 weeks, patients will be reassessed again to determine the difference.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, care provider, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| core stability exercise | Experimental | Other: exercise therapyThis group will receive core stabilization exercises ( MCGILL 2008), in addition to postural correction exercises described by (HARMAN 2005) |
| traditional exercise | Active comparator | Other: exercise therapyThis group will receive only postural correction exercises described by (HARMAN 2005) |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- CVA less than 50 degrees/ neck pain for about 4 weeks
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Vertebrobasilar insufficiency/ cervical surgery/ cervical or TMJ fracture
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| exercise therapycore stabilization exercises | Other | core stability exercise, traditional exercise |
Primary outcome
cervical sagittal vertical alignment
Time frame: baseline, week 6
calculated by measuring the horizontal distance between the posterosuperior corner of the C7 vertebral body and a plumb line drawn from the centroid of C2
T1 slope angle
Time frame: baseline, week 6
he angle formed by drawing a line along the superior endplate of T1 and horizontal reference line at the median sagittal cervical vertebra from the CT radiographs
craniovertebral angle
Time frame: baseline, week 6
the intersection of a horizontal line passing through the C7 spinous process and a line joining the midpoint of the tragus of the ear to the skin overlying the C7 spinous process.
2 secondary outcomes
numerical pain rating scale
Time frame: baseline, week 6
neck disability index
Time frame: baseline, week 6
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 21 Aug 2024.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 41490718Shabana AMM, Ashour RS, Yamany AS, Hanafy AF. Radiographic and clinical effects of core stabilization on cervical pain and sagittal balance in forward head posture: a randomized controlled trial. Asian Spine J. 2026 Jun;20(3):431-441. doi: 10.31616/asj.2025.0297. Epub 2026 Jan 6.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 39829179Shabana AMM, Hanafy AF, Yamany AS, Ashour RS. Effect of core stabilization exercises on cervical sagittal balance parameters in patients with forward head posture: a randomized controlled trial in Egypt. Asian Spine J. 2025 Feb;19(1):85-93. doi: 10.31616/asj.2024.0328. Epub 2025 Jan 20.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing exercise therapy in people with Forward Head Posture, run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Aug 2024. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Egypt. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
cervical sagittal vertical alignment (time frame: baseline, week 6). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06160245, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Aug 2024.