The effects of cervical mobilization combined with thoracic mobilization on forward head posture of neck pain patients

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of cervical mobilization combined with thoracic mobilization on neck pain patients' recovery from forward head posture (FHP). [Subjects] Thirty neck pain patients with FHP were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). [Methods] The experimental group received cervical mobilization combined with thoracic mobilization and the control group received only cervical mobilization. Cranial vertical angle (CVA) and cranial rotation angle (CRA) were measured before and after the experiment. [Results] The experimental group had significantly greater improvements in CVA and CRA than the control group. [Conclusion] Therefore, we recommend cervical mobilization combined with upper thoracic mobilization for the improvement of FHP in neck pain patients.