Comparison of Sensorimotor Integration and Skill-Related Physical Fitness Components Between College Athletes With and Without Forward Head Posture

in Journal of Sport Rehabilitation

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Ibrahim Moustafa Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

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Meeyoung Kim Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

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Deed E. Harrison Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Group, Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Ideal Spine Health, Eagle, ID, USA

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jsr.2022-0094
Keywords:
sensorimotor control; agility; power; balance; cervical sagittal alignment
First Published Online:
22 Jul 2022
In Print:
Volume 32: Issue 1
Page Range:
53–62
Restricted access

Objective: To evaluate sensorimotor integration and skill-related physical fitness components for participants with forward head posture (FHP) compared with strictly matched controls with normal head alignment. Material and Methods: We measured FHP, sensorimotor processing, and skill-related physical fitness variables in 50 participants with FHP and in 50 participants matched for age, gender, and body mass index with normal FHP, defined as having a craniovertebral angle >55°. Sensorimotor processing and integration variables were: (1) amplitudes of the spinal N13, (2) brainstem P14, (3) parietal N20 and P27, and (4) frontal N30 potentials. The skill-related physical fitness variables selected for the study were (1) T-test agility, (2) leg power, (3) stork static balance test, and (4) Y-balance test. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the FHP group and control group for the sensorimotor integration variable: frontal N30 potentials (P < .05). Additionally, between-group differences were found for the sensorimotor processing variables: amplitudes of spinal N13, brainstem P14, and parietal N20, and P27 (P < .05). Statistically significant differences between groups for the skill-related physical fitness variables were also identified: T-test agility, leg power, stork static balance test, and Y-balance test (P < .05). The magnitude of the craniovertebral angle showed a correlation with all measured variables (P < .05). Conclusion: College athletes with FHP exhibited altered sensorimotor processing and integration measurements and less efficient skill-related physical fitness compared with athletes with normal sagittal head posture alignment.

Moustafa (iabuamr@sharjah.ac.ae) is corresponding author.

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