SynthesisPloS one2025
Exercise therapy to improve cervical proprioception in individuals with asymptomatic forward head posture: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Craniovertebral angle and neck disability among university students with forward head posture: a comparative study of scapular retraction exercises versus McKenzie method.Scientific reports · 2026Trial
- Forward Head Posture and Trunk Muscle Activation Patterns During a Rapid Leg-Raise Task in Asymptomatic Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Therapeutic Exercise for Forward Head Posture in Neck Pain Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of pain research · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundForward head posture (FHP) is a common musculoskeletal condition associated with impaired cervical proprioception, which compromises postural control and neuromuscular function. Exercise-based interventions have been proposed to address proprioceptive deficits in FHP, but their effectiveness remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the impact of exercise programs on cervical proprioception in individuals with FHP.
methodsA systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted up to April 20, 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing exercise interventions on cervical proprioception in FHP were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB-2 tool. Due to heterogeneity in outcome measures, a narrative synthesis was conducted, supported by effect size (ES) calculations.
resultsNine RCTs involving 367 participants were included. Interventions ranged from cervical stabilization exercises (most common) to whole-body vibration, backward walking, and muscle energy techniques. ESs varied from trivial to nearly perfect, with trivial-to-very-large improvements observed in joint position sense and joint position error. While cervical stabilization exercises demonstrated positive outcomes in rotation and flexion tasks across some studies, the limited number and heterogeneity of studies on alternative interventions precluded a definitive comparison of consistency or effectiveness. Risk of bias was generally rated as "some concerns" due to lack of blinding and variability in outcome measures.
conclusionCurrent evidence suggests cervical stabilization exercises, the most studied intervention for FHP, may improve cervical proprioception. However, methodological heterogeneity and diagnostic inconsistencies, such as variations in craniovertebral angle thresholds used to define FHP, limit the ability to draw definitive conclusions. Future studies should standardize diagnostic criteria, outcome assessments, and investigate long-term effects across diverse populations.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.