Forward Head PostureNCT07840755
Effects of Nordic Pole Walking in Adults With Forward Head Posture
A study testing Nordic Pole Walking and General Walking in people with Forward Head Posture, run by Sahmyook University at 1 site in South Korea.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of Nordic pole walking on pain, neck-related disability, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and postural alignment in adults with forward head posture and neck pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Forward Head Posture
- What is being tested?
- Nordic Pole Walking and General Walking
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 44 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSouth Korea
- Study dates
- 28 Sep 2026to 11 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
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 20 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 20 years or older
- Craniovertebral angle (CVA) < 50°
- Neck pain lasting at least 3 months
- Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score > 4
Who cannot join
- Individuals currently participating in an exercise program related to neck pain management or postural correction
- Individuals with musculoskeletal disorders that limit the ability to perform the exercise intervention
- Individuals with respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, or pneumonia
- Individuals who have been regular smokers within the past 6 months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effects of Nordic Pole Walking on Pain, Pulmonary Function, and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Adults With Forward Head Posture: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of Nordic pole walking on pain, neck-related disability, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and postural alignment in adults with forward head posture and neck pain.
Participants will be randomly assigned to either a Nordic pole walking group or a general walking group. Both groups will participate in a 6-week walking program, three times per week, with each session lasting 40 minutes.
Neck-related disability and pain will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Pulmonary function will be assessed using forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and the FEV1/FVC ratio. Respiratory muscle strength will be evaluated using maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and postural alignment will be assessed using the craniovertebral angle (CVA). Measurements will be performed before and after the 6-week intervention.
- Conditions
- Forward Head Posture
- Being tested
- Nordic Pole Walking, General Walking
- Keywords
- Nordic Pole Walking, Forward Head Posture, Neck Pain, Pulmonary Function, Respiratory Muscle Strength, Craniovertebral Angle
- Medical subject headings
- Neck Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Nordic Pole WalkingBehavioural
Also called Nordic Walking
Participants will perform Nordic pole walking using Nordic walking poles for 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, with each session lasting 40 minutes. Participants will walk with coordinated upper- and lower-extremity movements while actively planting and pushing the poles during walking.
General WalkingBehavioural
Participants will perform general walking for 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, with each session lasting 40 minutes.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic Pole Walking Group | Experimental | Participants assigned to this group will perform Nordic pole walking for 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, with each session lasting 40 minutes. Receives: Behavioral: Nordic Pole Walking |
| General Walking Group | Active comparator | Participants assigned to this group will perform general walking for 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week, with each session lasting 40 minutes. Receives: Behavioral: General Walking |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for Neck Pain
Neck pain intensity will be assessed using a 10-cm horizontal Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The left end of the line represents no pain (0), and the right end represents very severe pain (10). To minimize bias, numerical values will not be displayed on the line. Participants will mark the point that best represents their perceived pain intensity, and the distance from the left end to the marked point will be measured with a ruler. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Neck Disability Index (NDI)
Neck-related disability will be assessed using the Neck Disability Index (NDI), a 10-item self-reported questionnaire. Each item is scored from 0 to 5, resulting in a raw total score ranging from 0 to 50. The raw total score will be multiplied by 2 and converted to a 0-100 scale, with higher scores indicating greater neck-related disability. The change in NDI score from baseline to 6 weeks will be evaluated.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Secondary outcomes (6)
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
Pulmonary function will be assessed using a MicroLab 3300 spirometer. Participants will be seated upright and perform forced expiratory maneuvers through a mouthpiece following maximal inspiration. FVC will be measured over three trials.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1)
FEV1 will be measured using a MicroLab 3300 spirometer with participants seated upright. Participants will perform forced expiratory maneuvers following maximal inspiration. FEV1 will be measured three times, and the mean of the three measurements will be used for analysis.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
FEV1/FVC Ratio
The FEV1/FVC ratio will be calculated from the measured forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) values obtained using a MicroLab 3300 spirometer. Higher values indicate a greater proportion of the vital capacity exhaled during the first second of forced expiration.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP)
Respiratory muscle strength will be assessed using a MicroRPM device with participants in a seated position. Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) will be measured from residual volume (RV). At least three and up to eight measurements will be performed. The highest value among measurements showing variability within 10% will be used for analysis.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP)
Respiratory muscle strength will be assessed using a MicroRPM device with participants in a seated position. Maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) will be measured from total lung capacity (TLC). At least three and up to eight measurements will be performed. The highest value among measurements showing variability within 10% will be used for analysis.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Craniovertebral Angle (CVA)
Postural alignment will be assessed using the craniovertebral angle (CVA). A camera will be positioned 104 inches from the participant at a height of 33 inches. Participants will stand upright in a comfortable posture with their arms at their sides after performing three consecutive maximal cervical flexion and extension movements. The CVA will be defined as the angle between a horizontal line passing through the C7 spinous process and a line connecting the tragus of the ear to the C7 spinous process. Three photographs will be taken, and the mean CVA value will be used for analysis. Lower CVA values indicate a greater degree of forward head posture.
Measured: Baseline and 6 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Sep 2026
- Study start28 Sep 2026
- Primary completion11 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion11 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Forward Head PostureStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly assigned to either a Nordic pole walking group or a general walking group.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 44 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Sahmyook University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, CHEON YEONGHUN, Sahmyook University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07840755
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2026-04-033-004
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 20 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No