Abstract
Background: Various activities of daily living require sitting for prolonged periods of time. These activities include driving a car, working on a computer. This can lead to postural changes such as exaggerated forward head posture. Which can lead to over activation of the ankle plantar flexor to maintain body balance. On the other hand, ankle movement may be restricted as the body is connected through fasciae network were the upper quadrant disturbance may affect lower quadrant.
Aim of Study: The current study aimed to determine the relationship between forward head posture and both ankle joint range of motion and dynamic balance in 35 healthy students. Their age ranged from 19 to 22 years.
Material and Methods: Posture was evaluated using Biotonix posture print while Biodex stability system was used to evaluate dynamic postural control. Universal goniometer was used to measure ankle joint range of motion.
Results: Three-Dimensional (3-D) head posture changes affected dynamic balance at level four of the Biodex dynamic balance test (only medio-lateral stability index), while no changes were observed in the dynamic balance at level eight. Three-dimensional head posture changes affected ankle joint range of motion.
Conclusion: Three-dimensional head posture changes affected ankle joint range of motion through the fascial system which connects different body segments with each other. Dynamic balance was also affected as changes of head posture alters center of gravity position.