The effect of applying a head-weight device on cervical angle and pain of neck muscles

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the change in pain threshold of levator scapular muscle, carniovertebral angle, and head position angle when applying a head-weight device on healthy adult. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: This study was conducted with 21 healthy adult male and female who voluntarily agreed to participate in this study after being informed of the purpose and method of this study. After measuring the cervical angle and pain threshold of levator scapular muscle, subject was instructed to walk for 5 minutes on a treadmill at a speed of less than 5 km/h while wearing after wearing head-weight device of 0.5 kg. Then, cervical spine angle and pain threshold of levator scapula muscle were re-measured. Measurement of cervical spine angle was conducted with photo by using the Bluebeam Revu software and the pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) were measured using an electronic algometer over potential trigger points on the body. Results: The results cervical angle showed a significant change, from 49.62o to 52.10o (p<0.05). PPT showed a significant change, from 30.71 to 36.89 (p<0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that applying head-weight device has a positive influence on increasing cervical angle and reducing pain when applied as a therapeutic intervention method of forward head posture.