Forward Head PostureNCT07891260
Relationship of Forward Head Posture With Burnout and Quality of Life
An observational study of Forward Head Posture, run by Cairo University.
Trial summary
The goal of this observational study is to investigate the relationship of forward head posture with burnout and quality of life in patients with mechanical neck pain. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Is there a significant correlation between the severity of forward head posture (measured by Kinovea… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 35 to 50 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Forward Head Posture
- What is being tested?
- postural, physical, and cognitive assessment
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 20 Nov 2026to 1 Mar 2027
- Phase
- Observational
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 35 to 50 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Study population: A total of 50 patients of both sexes (aged 35-50 years) with mild to moderate mechanical neck pain and forward head posture will be recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, following diagnosis and referral by a neurologist. Eligibility Criteria: Age between 35 and 50 years. Mild to moderate mechanical neck pain (assessed by VAS) with symptom duration from 6 months up to 2 years. Cooperative patients with sufficient cognitive abilities to understand and follow instructions. Group Allocation: Based on the Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) measured via Kinovea software, participants will be divided into two groups: Group 1: CVA between 40° and 45°. Group 2: CVA between 45° and 50°. Ethical Consideration: All participants will sign an informed consent form after receiving full details regarding study purpose, procedures, benefits, data privacy, and their right to withdraw
Who may be able to join
- 50 patients of both sexes diagnosed with mild to moderate mechanical neck pain with forward head.
- Patient's age 35-50 years
- Patients with mild to moderate mechanical neck pain by VAS
- Duration of symptoms will be more than 6 months up to 2 years
- Co-operative patients with sufficient cognitive abilities that enables them to understand and follow instructions
Who cannot join
- Any neurological disease that causes mechanical neck pain rather than forward head posture, especially radiculopathy.
- Depressed patients
- History of cervical surgery , trauma or Severe neurological deficits (e.g., motor paralysis
- Sever mechanical neck pain
- Patients with visual or auditory impairment affecting their ability to complete the testing
- Patients with cognitive impairment
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Marwa Mostafa abdel moneim, lecturer of physical therapy contact
About this study
Official title: Relationship of Forward Head Posture With Burnout and Quality of Life in Patients With Mechanical Neck Pain
The goal of this observational study is to investigate the relationship of forward head posture with burnout and quality of life in patients with mechanical neck pain.
The main questions the study aims to answer are:
Read more
Is there a significant correlation between the severity of forward head posture (measured by Kinovea software) and psychological burnout (evaluated by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, MBI)?
How do different degrees of forward head posture impact pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, cervical proprioception, and cognitive function (assessed via MoCA and the CogniFit application)?
comparison groups:
Researchers will compare Group 1 (patients with a forward head posture angle from 40 to 45 degrees) to Group 2 (patients with a forward head posture angle from 45 to 50 degrees) to see if varying degrees of forward head posture lead to different levels of physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments.
Participants will:
Undergo posture assessment using Kinovea software to determine their forward head posture angle and be allocated into their respective study groups.
pain intensity and pressure pain threshold measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and pressure algometry.
Perform a cervical proprioception test using a pointer laser device.
Complete cognitive evaluations using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the CogniFit digital application.
Fill out standardized questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) ,to assess burnout .
Read the detailed description
Background and Rationale:
Mechanical neck pain is a widespread musculoskeletal disorder frequently linked to postural abnormalities, most notably Forward Head Posture (FHP). Prolonged exposure to poor ergonomic habits and forward head alignment creates continuous biomechanical stress on the cervical spine's musculature and joints. Beyond physical pain and restricted mobility, chronic musculoskeletal discomfort can exert significant strain on the central nervous system, sensorimotor control, and psychological well-being, potentially triggering burnout and diminishing the overall quality of life.
Study Design and Group Allocation:
This observational/cross-sectional (or comparative) study is designed to evaluate and correlate the degree of forward head posture with psychological burnout and quality of life parameters among patients with mechanical neck pain. Participants diagnosed with mechanical neck pain and exhibiting forward head posture will be assessed using the Kinovea software to measure the craniovertebral angle (CVA) or specific forward head posture angles. Based on these objective measurements, participants will be stratified into two distinct study groups:
Group 1: Patients with a forward head posture angle ranging from 40 to 45 degrees.
Group 2: Patients with a forward head posture angle ranging from 45 to 50 degrees.
Outcome Measures and Assessment Protocols:
To comprehensively examine the physiological, sensorimotor, cognitive, and psychological impacts across these groups, a battery of standardized and objective evaluation tools will be administered:
Pain Assessment and Pressure Pain Threshold:
Pain intensity will be quantified using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Pressure pain thresholds over cervical and upper quarter trigger points will be evaluated using pressure algometry.
Cervical Proprioception:
Cervical position sense and repositioning accuracy will be measured using a pointer laser device attached to the participant's head, assessing joint position error.
Cognitive Function:
Global cognitive screening will be performed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Detailed, computerized cognitive domains will be assessed via the CogniFit digital application.
Burnout:
Psychological burnout will be thoroughly evaluated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), addressing dimensions such as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment.
Clinical Significance:
By categorizing patients based on precise Kinovea-derived posture angles and correlating them with multidimensional outcomes (pain, proprioception, cognition, and MBI-measured burnout), this study aims to clarify how the severity of forward head posture cascades into physical and psychological decrements. The findings will help optimize physical therapy interventions and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation paradigms for patients suffering from mechanical neck pain.
- Conditions
- Forward Head Posture
- Being tested
- postural, physical, and cognitive assessment
- Keywords
- burnout, cognition, forward head posture, mechanical neck pain, neck proprioception
- Medical subject headings
- Burnout, Psychological
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
postural, physical, and cognitive assessmentOther
no therapeutic intervention is provided. Participants only undergo postural evaluation (Kinovea), pain assessment (VAS and Algometry), proprioception testing, and cognitive/psychological evaluations (MoCA, CogniFit, and MBI).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| forward head posture group 1 | patients with mechanical neck pain who have forward head posture angle ranging from 40:45 degrees measured by kinovea software Receives: Other: postural, physical, and cognitive assessment | |
| forward head posture group 2 | patients with mechanical neck pain who have forward head posture angle ranging from 45:50 degrees measured by kinovea software Receives: Other: postural, physical, and cognitive assessment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
burnout assessed using the Maslach Burnout inventory
Burnout will be assessed using the Arabic version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The questionnaire consists of 22 items assessing three dimensions: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment. Each item is rated on a 7-point frequency scale ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (every day). Each dimension will be scored separately according to the scoring instructions for the instrument. score for emotional exhaustion range from 0:54 , while for depersonalization 0:30 and for personal accomplishment 0:48. Higher scores indicate greater burnout symptoms in Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization, whereas lower scores indicate reduced Personal Accomplishment.
Measured: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
Secondary outcomes (5)
cognition (cognitive function) assessed using Montreal of cognitive assessment
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a standardized cognitive screening tool used to assess global cognitive function, including attention, concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuospatial abilities, abstraction, calculation, and orientation. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance and lower scores indicating greater cognitive impairment.
Measured: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
pain intensity assessed using visual analog scale.
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm horizontal line anchored by "no pain" (0 cm) at one end and "worst imaginable pain" (10 cm) at the other end. Participants will be instructed to mark the point on the line that best represents their current neck pain intensity. The score will be determined by measuring the distance from the "no pain" anchor to the participant's mark. The minimum value is 0, indicating no pain, and the maximum value is 10, indicating the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity and worse outcomes, whereas lower scores indicate lower pain intensity and better outcomes
Measured: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
neck proprioception assessed using joint position error test
Cervical proprioception will be assessed using the Joint Position Error (JPE) test with a laser pointer. Participants will be instructed to perform active cervical movements with their eyes closed and return their head to the initial neutral position. The distance between the laser pointer's final position and the original target position will be measured in centimeters (cm). The minimum value is 0 cm, indicating no repositioning error. Lower scores indicate better cervical proprioceptive accuracy, whereas higher scores indicate greater repositioning error and poorer cervical proprioception.
Measured: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
cognition (cognitive function) assessed using cognifit application
CogniFit is a computerized cognitive assessment platform used to evaluate multiple cognitive abilities, including attention, memory, reasoning, and other cognitive functions. Each cognitive ability is assessed separately, and scores are generated according to the platform's scoring system. Each score ranges from 0 to 800 points, where 0 represents the minimum score and 800 represents the maximum score. Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance, whereas lower scores indicate poorer cognitive performance.
Measured: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
pressure pain threshold assessed using pressure algometry.
Pressure pain threshold (PPT) will be assessed using a pressure algometer applied over the C6 and C7 cervical vertebral levels and the surrounding cervical soft tissues at predetermined assessment sites. The algometer probe will be applied perpendicularly to the skin, and pressure will be gradually increased at a constant rate until the participant first perceives the pressure as painful. The force at the onset of pain will be recorded in kilograms (kg). Three measurements will be performed at each assessment site, with 30-second intervals between trials, and the mean value will be calculated for analysis. The minimum value is 0 kg, while the maximum value depends on the measurement capacity of the algometer. Higher values indicate a higher pressure pain threshold and lower pressure sensitivity, representing better outcomes, whereas lower values indicate greater pressure sensitivity and worse outcomes.
Measured: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Oct 2026
- Study start20 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion20 Feb 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Mar 2027 (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.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ahmed Mossaed hussein, Beni-Suef University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07891260
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006565
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Data is available with corresponding author on reasonable request