Correlation between Static Balance and Core Endurance among College Student with Forward Head Posture

Abstract

Background: Proper posture is considered to be a state of musculoskeletal balance that involves a minimal amount of stress or strain to the body. When the head is held forward in relation to the trunk, the alignment is said to be poor and is referred as, ‘forward head posture’ (FHP). If abnormal posture persists for a long time, it compromises balance because of muscular imbalance which can cause loss of proprioception sense in joint and decreased balance, and trunk endurance is significantly reduced in FHP and may lead to poor muscular control of the spine. Purpose: To find the correlation between the core muscle endurance and balance among college student with forward head posture. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital. 25 healthy college student individuals within the age group of 18-30 years having forward head posture were taken. FHP was assessed by craniovertebral angle. Trunk endurance was measured by McGill core endurance test and static balance was assessed by standing stork test. Results: Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used to find the correlation between Trunk muscle endurance and static balance. Strong positive correlation was found which was statistically significant between trunk flexor endurance, trunk extensor endurance, right lateral endurance, left lateral endurance, and static balance. Conclusion: Among college students with FHP decreased core endurance can affect the static balance. Keywords: forward head posture, core endurance, static balance.