An observational study in Forward Head Posture, sponsored by Cairo University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 35 Years to 50 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-23.
Sponsored by Cairo University · Observational
The goal of this observational study is to investigate the relationship of forward head posture with burnout and quality of life in patients with mechanical neck pain.
The main questions the study aims to answer are:
Is there a significant correlation between the severity of forward head posture (measured by Kinovea software) and psychological burnout (evaluated by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, MBI)?
How do different degrees of forward head posture impact pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, cervical proprioception, and cognitive function (assessed via MoCA and the CogniFit application)?
comparison groups:
Researchers will compare Group 1 (patients with a forward head posture angle from 40 to 45 degrees) to Group 2 (patients with a forward head posture angle from 45 to 50 degrees) to see if varying degrees of forward head posture lead to different levels of physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments.
Participants will:
Undergo posture assessment using Kinovea software to determine their forward head posture angle and be allocated into their respective study groups.
pain intensity and pressure pain threshold measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and pressure algometry.
Perform a cervical proprioception test using a pointer laser device.
Complete cognitive evaluations using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the CogniFit digital application.
Fill out standardized questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) ,to assess burnout .
Background and Rationale:
Mechanical neck pain is a widespread musculoskeletal disorder frequently linked to postural abnormalities, most notably Forward Head Posture (FHP). Prolonged exposure to poor ergonomic habits and forward head alignment creates continuous biomechanical stress on the cervical spine's musculature and joints. Beyond physical pain and restricted mobility, chronic musculoskeletal discomfort can exert significant strain on the central nervous system, sensorimotor control, and psychological well-being, potentially triggering burnout and diminishing the overall quality of life.
Study Design and Group Allocation:
This observational/cross-sectional (or comparative) study is designed to evaluate and correlate the degree of forward head posture with psychological burnout and quality of life parameters among patients with mechanical neck pain. Participants diagnosed with mechanical neck pain and exhibiting forward head posture will be assessed using the Kinovea software to measure the craniovertebral angle (CVA) or specific forward head posture angles. Based on these objective measurements, participants will be stratified into two distinct study groups:
Group 1: Patients with a forward head posture angle ranging from 40 to 45 degrees.
Group 2: Patients with a forward head posture angle ranging from 45 to 50 degrees.
Outcome Measures and Assessment Protocols:
To comprehensively examine the physiological, sensorimotor, cognitive, and psychological impacts across these groups, a battery of standardized and objective evaluation tools will be administered:
Pain Assessment and Pressure Pain Threshold:
Pain intensity will be quantified using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Pressure pain thresholds over cervical and upper quarter trigger points will be evaluated using pressure algometry.
Cervical Proprioception:
Cervical position sense and repositioning accuracy will be measured using a pointer laser device attached to the participant's head, assessing joint position error.
Cognitive Function:
Global cognitive screening will be performed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
Detailed, computerized cognitive domains will be assessed via the CogniFit digital application.
Burnout:
Psychological burnout will be thoroughly evaluated using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), addressing dimensions such as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment.
Clinical Significance:
By categorizing patients based on precise Kinovea-derived posture angles and correlating them with multidimensional outcomes (pain, proprioception, cognition, and MBI-measured burnout), this study aims to clarify how the severity of forward head posture cascades into physical and psychological decrements. The findings will help optimize physical therapy interventions and multi-disciplinary rehabilitation paradigms for patients suffering from mechanical neck pain.
458 studies on the registry are indexed under Burnout, Psychological; 110 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 200 across 117 observational studies indexed under Burnout, Psychological.
Browse Burnout, Psychological studies →Cairo University is the lead sponsor of 4,907 studies on the registry; 1,445 are open to participants now.
Of its 37 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (14%) have results posted.
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A total of 50 patients of both sexes (aged 35-50 years) with mild to moderate mechanical neck pain and forward head posture will be recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, following diagnosis and referral by a neurologist.
Eligibility Criteria:
Age between 35 and 50 years. Mild to moderate mechanical neck pain (assessed by VAS) with symptom duration from 6 months up to 2 years.
Cooperative patients with sufficient cognitive abilities to understand and follow instructions.
Group Allocation:
Based on the Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) measured via Kinovea software, participants will be divided into two groups:
Group 1: CVA between 40° and 45°. Group 2: CVA between 45° and 50°.
Ethical Consideration:
All participants will sign an informed consent form after receiving full details regarding study purpose, procedures, benefits, data privacy, and their right to withdraw
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
patients with mechanical neck pain who have forward head posture angle ranging from 40:45 degrees measured by kinovea software
Other: postural, physical, and cognitive assessment
patients with mechanical neck pain who have forward head posture angle ranging from 45:50 degrees measured by kinovea software
Other: postural, physical, and cognitive assessment
no therapeutic intervention is provided. Participants only undergo postural evaluation (Kinovea), pain assessment (VAS and Algometry), proprioception testing, and cognitive/psychological evaluations (MoCA, CogniFit, and MBI).
burnout assessed using the Maslach Burnout inventory
Burnout will be assessed using the Arabic version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The questionnaire consists of 22 items assessing three dimensions: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment. Each item is rated on a 7-point frequency scale ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (every day). Each dimension will be scored separately according to the scoring instructions for the instrument. score for emotional exhaustion range from 0:54 , while for depersonalization 0:30 and for personal accomplishment 0:48. Higher scores indicate greater burnout symptoms in Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization, whereas lower scores indicate reduced Personal Accomplishment.
Time frame: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
cognition (cognitive function) assessed using Montreal of cognitive assessment
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a standardized cognitive screening tool used to assess global cognitive function, including attention, concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuospatial abilities, abstraction, calculation, and orientation. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance and lower scores indicating greater cognitive impairment.
Time frame: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
pain intensity assessed using visual analog scale.
Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), a 10-cm horizontal line anchored by "no pain" (0 cm) at one end and "worst imaginable pain" (10 cm) at the other end. Participants will be instructed to mark the point on the line that best represents their current neck pain intensity. The score will be determined by measuring the distance from the "no pain" anchor to the participant's mark. The minimum value is 0, indicating no pain, and the maximum value is 10, indicating the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate greater pain intensity and worse outcomes, whereas lower scores indicate lower pain intensity and better outcomes
Time frame: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
neck proprioception assessed using joint position error test
Cervical proprioception will be assessed using the Joint Position Error (JPE) test with a laser pointer. Participants will be instructed to perform active cervical movements with their eyes closed and return their head to the initial neutral position. The distance between the laser pointer's final position and the original target position will be measured in centimeters (cm). The minimum value is 0 cm, indicating no repositioning error. Lower scores indicate better cervical proprioceptive accuracy, whereas higher scores indicate greater repositioning error and poorer cervical proprioception.
Time frame: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
cognition (cognitive function) assessed using cognifit application
CogniFit is a computerized cognitive assessment platform used to evaluate multiple cognitive abilities, including attention, memory, reasoning, and other cognitive functions. Each cognitive ability is assessed separately, and scores are generated according to the platform's scoring system. Each score ranges from 0 to 800 points, where 0 represents the minimum score and 800 represents the maximum score. Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance, whereas lower scores indicate poorer cognitive performance.
Time frame: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
pressure pain threshold assessed using pressure algometry.
Pressure pain threshold (PPT) will be assessed using a pressure algometer applied over the C6 and C7 cervical vertebral levels and the surrounding cervical soft tissues at predetermined assessment sites. The algometer probe will be applied perpendicularly to the skin, and pressure will be gradually increased at a constant rate until the participant first perceives the pressure as painful. The force at the onset of pain will be recorded in kilograms (kg). Three measurements will be performed at each assessment site, with 30-second intervals between trials, and the mean value will be calculated for analysis. The minimum value is 0 kg, while the maximum value depends on the measurement capacity of the algometer. Higher values indicate a higher pressure pain threshold and lower pressure sensitivity, representing better outcomes, whereas lower values indicate greater pressure sensitivity and worse outcomes.
Time frame: Baseline (at the initial assessment)
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No — Data is available with corresponding author on reasonable request
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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