| CTRI Number |
CTRI/2025/12/098984 [Registered on: 11/12/2025] Trial Registered Prospectively |
| Last Modified On: |
11/12/2025 |
| Post Graduate Thesis |
Yes |
| Type of Trial |
Observational |
|
Type of Study
|
Cross Sectional Study |
| Study Design |
Other |
|
Public Title of Study
|
Impact of forward head posture on body and mind |
|
Scientific Title of Study
|
Forward head posture and its impact on tissue mechanosensitivity and Psychological health |
| Trial Acronym |
Nil |
|
Secondary IDs if Any
|
| Secondary ID |
Identifier |
| NIL |
NIL |
|
|
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)
|
| Name |
Kush Parashar |
| Designation |
PG Scholar |
| Affiliation |
Amity institute of health and allied sciences |
| Address |
AIHAS, F1 Block Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar UTTAR PRADESH 201313
AIHAS, F1 Block Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar UTTAR PRADESH 201313
Gautam Buddha Nagar
UTTAR PRADESH
201313
India |
| Phone |
8448215078 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
kush.parashar1@s.amity.edu |
|
Details of Contact Person
Scientific Query
|
| Name |
Dr Kavita Sharma |
| Designation |
Assistance Professor |
| Affiliation |
Amity institute of health and allied sciences |
| Address |
AIHAS, F1 Block Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar UTTAR PRADESH 201313 India
AIHAS, F1 Block Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar UTTAR PRADESH 201313 India
Gautam Buddha Nagar
UTTAR PRADESH
201313
India |
| Phone |
8580883100 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
Ksharma8@amity.edu |
|
Details of Contact Person
Public Query
|
| Name |
Dr Kavita Sharma |
| Designation |
Assistance Professor |
| Affiliation |
Amity institute of health and allied sciences |
| Address |
AIHAS, F1 Block Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar UTTAR PRADESH 201313 India
AIHAS, F1 Block Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar UTTAR PRADESH 201313 India
Gautam Buddha Nagar
UTTAR PRADESH
201313
India |
| Phone |
8580883100 |
| Fax |
|
| Email |
Ksharma8@amity.edu |
|
|
Source of Monetary or Material Support
|
|
|
Primary Sponsor
|
| Name |
Kush Parashar |
| Address |
AIHAS, F1 Block Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh Gautam Buddha Nagar UTTAR PRADESH 201313 India |
| Type of Sponsor |
Other [Other [self]] |
|
|
Details of Secondary Sponsor
|
|
|
Countries of Recruitment
|
India |
|
Sites of Study
|
| No of Sites = 1 |
| Name of Principal
Investigator |
Name of Site |
Site Address |
Phone/Fax/Email |
| Dr Rohit Rathore |
Axon Physiotherapy & Rehab Center |
F-6, Gupta complex shiv main market VIJAY ENCLAVE, Dwarkapuri New Delhi
New Delhi
DELHI |
9810797655
drrohitthephysio@gmail.com |
|
|
Details of Ethics Committee
|
| No of Ethics Committees= 1 |
| Name of Committee |
Approval Status |
| Institutional NTCC Committee Department of Physiotherapy AIHAS Amity University Uttar Pradesh Noida Uttar Pradesh |
Approved |
|
|
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI
|
|
|
Health Condition / Problems Studied
|
| Health Type |
Condition |
| Patients |
(1) ICD-10 Condition: 4||Measurement and Monitoring, |
|
|
Intervention / Comparator Agent
|
| Type |
Name |
Details |
| Intervention |
Nil |
Nil |
| Intervention |
Nil |
Nil |
|
|
Inclusion Criteria
|
| Age From |
18.00 Year(s) |
| Age To |
25.00 Year(s) |
| Gender |
Both |
| Details |
a. Age Range: young adults between 18-25 years.
b. Clinically Observable Forward Head Posture.
c. Digital Lifestyle Exposure - A minimum of 4
hours per day of screen-based activity, as
measured by self-report of the average daily in
the past six months with FHP Signs.
d. No History of Cervical Spine Surgery, Diseases,
and Neurological Disorders.
e. Consent and Compliance - Gave written
informed consent or executed an independent
assent form signed in the participant’s language
of preference.
f. REQUIRED ATTENDANCE - Duration: full
session, 45-60 minutes. |
|
| ExclusionCriteria |
| Details |
a. History of Cervical Spine Surgery or Trauma:
Individuals with prior surgical intervention, whiplash injury, or vertebral fractures were excluded to avoid confounding biomechanical
alterations unrelated to postural deviation.
b. Neurological or Systemic Conditions:
Participants with diagnosed neurological
disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s
disease), systemic inflammatory conditions
(e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), or metabolic
disorders affecting musculoskeletal integrity
were excluded.
c. Current Use of Analgesics or Psychotropic
Medications: Regular use of painkillers,
antidepressants, anxiolytics, or antipsychotics
was considered a confounding factor for both
mechanosensitivity and psychological
assessment.
d. Diagnosed Psychiatric Illness: Individuals with
clinically diagnosed psychiatric conditions
(e.g., major depressive disorder, generalized
anxiety disorder, schizophrenia) were excluded
to ensure that psychological distress measured
was posturally mediated rather than pre existing.
e. Pregnancy or Postpartum Status: Due to
hormonal and biomechanical changes affecting posture and pain perception, pregnant or
recently postpartum women were excluded.
f. Inability to Comprehend Assessment Tools:
Participants unable to understand or complete
the questionnaires in either English or Hindi
were excluded to maintain data integrity.
g. Engagement in Structured Postural
Rehabilitation: Individuals currently
undergoing physiotherapy, yoga, or ergonomic
training specifically targeting cervical posture
were excluded to avoid bias from therapeutic
influence. |
|
|
Method of Generating Random Sequence
|
Not Applicable |
|
Method of Concealment
|
Not Applicable |
|
Blinding/Masking
|
Not Applicable |
|
Primary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
| Neck Pain & Psychological Distress |
Baseline |
|
|
Secondary Outcome
|
| Outcome |
TimePoints |
| Nil |
Nil |
|
|
Target Sample Size
|
Total Sample Size="98"
Sample Size from India="98"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials" |
|
Phase of Trial
|
N/A |
|
Date of First Enrollment (India)
|
25/12/2025 |
| Date of Study Completion (India) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
| Date of First Enrollment (Global) |
Date Missing |
| Date of Study Completion (Global) |
Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials |
|
Estimated Duration of Trial
|
Years="0"
Months="4"
Days="0" |
|
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)
|
Not Yet Recruiting |
| Recruitment Status of Trial (India) |
Not Yet Recruiting |
|
Publication Details
|
N/A |
|
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement
|
Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?
Response - NO
|
|
Brief Summary
|
Introduction The musculoskeletal system functions as an integrated biomechanical network, where the efficiency of each component directly influences the performance of the entire structure Within this complex framework, the cervical spine is particularly susceptible to postural deviations most notably forward head posture FHP and FHP is defined by the anterior displacement of the head relative to the shoulder line imposing excessive biomechanical stress on the cervical structures This increased load can reduce tissue resilience and contribute to musculoskeletal strain However the existing scientific literature remains inconclusive about the exact link between FHP and spinal strain While some studies report a strong association between FHP and neck pain others propose that its impact on musculoskeletal function is minimal or insignificant Beyond mechanical implications psychosocial dimensions of FHP have recently gained attention Persistent postural stress may impair central pain modulation processes heightening both tissue sensitivity and emotional distress Continuous nociceptive input from strained cervical tissues might also contribute to central sensitization From a psychosocial standpoint poor posture can diminish self confidence foster social withdrawal and exacerbate mental fatigue Moreover chronic mechanical loading may stimulate peripheral inflammatory responses such as lymphocyte activation and tissue edema further intensifying nociceptive signaling When mechanical strain coincides with psychological stress a self perpetuating cycle may develop amplifying the interplay between emotional distress and tissue hypersensitivity This integrative perspective suggests that FHP should be viewed not merely as a biomechanical misalignment but as a biopsychosocial condition influencing both physical and psychological well being Emerging research supports that interventions targeting FHP can improve not only cervical mechanical pain but also psychosocial outcomes underscoring its clinical relevance Consequently the present study aims to explore the interrelationship between FHP and the hyperactivity of cervical articular muscular and neural systems alongside psychosomatic factors domains that remain inadequately understood in current scientific discourse
Aim is The current study intends to explore the relationship of FHP with tissue mechanosensitivity and its association with psychological well being among the young adult populations in the Indian community & The study attempts to determine the correlation of variations in cervical alignment with the mechanical sensitivity of musculoskeletal and neural structures and their relationship with emotional and cognitive health measures
Objectives To quantify forward head posture in Indian adults aged 18 to 25 years by measuring the craniovertebral angle CVA To assess cervical tissue mechanosensitivity using pressure pain threshold PPT measures and neurodynamic tests To evaluate levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and pain-related thoughts through validated tools such as DASS 21 and PCS To examine the relationships between FHP severity, tissue sensitivity, and psychological outcomes To identify factors that predict increased pain sensitivity and emotional distress among individuals with forward head posture
Hypothesis Alternate Hypothesis One H1 is A statistically significant association between FHP high tissue mechanosensitivity, and severe psychological distress or symptoms of depression anxiety stress of depression DAS and anxiety A and stress S subscales will be established among young Indian adults Null Hypothesis Zero H0 is No significant association exists between existing self-reported FHP tissue mechanosensitivity, and psychological health parameters in the Indian adult population |