Relationship between Forward Head Posture, Neck Pain, and Disability among Dentists with Mechanical Neck Pain

Background: Dentistry is a high-risk profession for neck pain due to stressful work positions such as neck flexion, arm abduction, and inflexible postural positions, which can cause a forward head posture (FHP).
Objective: This study aimed to explore whether there is a relationship between FHP and the severity of neck pain and disability among dentists with mechanical neck pain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on twenty-six dentists with FHP and chronic mechanical neck pain lasting more than 3 months. All participants were assessed for FHP by photometric measurement of cranio-vertebral angle (CVA), neck pain through the visual analogue scale Arabic version (VAS-AR), and neck disability through the neck disability index Arabic version (NDI-AR).
Results: The forward head and the neck disability had a weak, inverse, and non-significant correlation (r = -0.250, p = 0.219). While, the forward head and pain had a weak, direct, and non-significant correlation (r = 0.132, p = 0.250).
Conclusion: Forward head posture may contribute to the exacerbation of neck pain and disability among dentists.