Effects of Active Vibration Exercise on Neck Pain, Disability Index, and Muscle Activity of Patients with Forward Head Posture

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of active vibration exercise on the neck pain, disability index, and muscle activity of patients with forward head posture. METHODS: A total of 24 patients were randomly assigned to an experimental group or a control group (n=12 each). The experimental group performed active vibration exercise using a flexi-bar for 20 minutes a day, five times a week for four weeks. The study measured patient neck pain using a visual analog scale, neck pain related disability using the neck disability index, and muscle activity using electromyography. RESULTS: The intragroup comparison showed significant differences in the visual analog scale score, neck disability index score and upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity values among patients in the experimental group. The intergroup comparison showed that differences in the visual analog scale score, neck disability index score and upper trapezius, lower trapezius and serratus anterior muscle activity values in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that active vibration exercise was effective in improving the neck pain, disability index, and muscle activity of patients with forward head posture.