Comparative Effect of Scapular Stabilization vs Thoracic Extension Exercises in Young Adults With Text Neck Syndrome.

Comparative Effect of Scapular Stabilization Versus Thoracic Extension Exercises on Pain, Disability, Range of Motion, and Craniovertebral Angle in Young Adults With Text Neck Syndrome.

The aim of the study is to compare the effect of scapular stabilization versus thoracic extension exercises on pain, disability, range of motion, and cranio-vertebral angle in young adults with Text Neck Syndrome.

Text neck has emerged as a widespread modern epidemic that affects people of all ages, particularly younger populations, as they are exposed to handheld mobile device use for several hours a day beginning at a very early age. The relation between the posture due to handheld mobile device use and neck pain is still debatable. To manage the maladaptive posture of the cervical spine, indirect treatment instead of direct treatment of the neck can be used, which is the basis for the concept of regional interdependence, i.e., the cause of pain becomes the cause of damage to other body parts. Therefore, not treating the damaged part, but indirectly treating the area of cause can alleviate the symptoms. A bio-dynamic relationship between the cervical and thoracic spine is associated with exercise, an important factor causing neck pain. Therefore, many clinicians pay attention to the thoracic spine of patients with neck pain and recommend thoracic extension exercises. On the other hand, many researchers recommended scapular stabilization exercise as a recovery treatment for imbalanced scapular muscles caused by forward head posture.

This study investigates how exercise programs not directly applied to the cervical spine affect people with text neck syndrome. The significance of the current study is to evaluate the comparison between concentric and eccentric exercise which is previously rarely investigated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Both male and female participants with forward head posture or text neck syndrome
• Participants with neck pain from the past three months
• Smart-phones must be used for at least ≥3 hours each day
• Participants with craniovertebral angle <53° will be included in this study

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of cervical and thoracic spine surgery within the past three months
• Serious pathological conditions within the past three months
• Congenital spinal anomalies, or rheumatoid arthritis
• Neurological signs and severe psychological disorders