Effect of Interactive Virtual Reality Device on Cervical Pain and Neck Function in Forward Head Posture

Elhafez, Haytham M.; Abd Elmageed, Shaimaa N.; Ali, Ebtesam A

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2022.266835

Effect of Interactive Virtual Reality Device on Cervical Pain and Neck Function in Forward Head Posture

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

10.21608/ejhm.2022.266835

Abstract

Background: One of the most prevalent postural abnormalities, forward head posture (FHP), is affecting 66% of the population of patients. Bad interaction between bodily components results in poor posture. These can result in muscle tightening and tension that will make it harder to move your joints properly and may even hurt.
Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the impactof interactive virtual reality device on cervical pain and neck function in symptomatic forward head posture.
Patients and Methods. In this study, 30 patients of both sexes with symptoms of forward head posture, body mass index (BMI) between 18 and 25 kg/m², and ages between 20 and 24 years were enrolled in this study. They were randomized into two groups of equal number. Group Areceived taditional treatment (chin tuck exercise for posture correction); three sets of ten repetitions were carried out for three minutes each day for four weeks, with each repetition lasting five seconds. Group Bobtained the same as group "A" in addition to VR training by Xbox Kinect 360 (15 min each session three times each week) for 4 weeks. Cervical pain “VAS” and neck disability “NDI” were measured pre and posttreatment. Results. There was a substantial decrease in the VAS post treatment and there was a substantial decrease in the NDI among the two groups in favor of group B.
Conclusion Combining virtual reality with the chin-tuck exercise is an efficient way to treat cervical pain and neck disability in forward head posture.

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