The Relationship between the Forward Head Angle with Scapular Upward Rotation and Scapulohumeral Rhythm Ratio in Male High School Students

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Kurdistan, Iran

2 Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

10.22038/mjms.2025.85308.4894

Abstract

Introduction: Forward head disorder increases the effect of gravity on the head, overextension of the head in the occipital atlas joint, flexion of the neck on the chest, and weakness of the neck flexors. The present study investigated the relationship between the amount of forward head with scapular upward rotation and the scapulohumeral rhythm ratio in male high school students.
Materials & Methods: Sixty male high school students with an age range of 14-19 years were randomly selected as a statistical sample. The amount of forward head angle was measured by photographing the body's profile view. One inclinometer was used to measure shoulder elevation and another inclinometer was used to measure scapular upper rotation at 45, 90, and 135 degrees of shoulder abduction on the frontal plane. Pearson's correlation coefficient test was used to check the correlation between research variables.
Results: findings indicated there was a positive and significant relationship between the amount of head forward and the scapular upper rotation in the angles of 135 degrees shoulder abduction (r=- 0.26, p=0.04) and from 90 to 135 degrees shoulder abduction (r= 0.30, p=0.01). Also, there was a negative and significant relationship between the amount of head forward and the scapulohumeral rhythm ratio in 0 to 135 degrees (r= 0.25, p=0.04), 45 to 90 degrees (r= 0.26, p=0.04), and 90 to 135 degrees of shoulder abduction (r= 0.38, p=0.003).
Conclusion: This study's results emphasize the importance of proper spine alignment and craniovertebral angle to prevent shoulder complex disorders.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Hosseinimehr SH, Anbarian M. The effects of activities related to sports on scapular resting position and scapulohumeral rhythm ratio. Sport Sci Health. 2020; 16:713-717.
  2. Hosseinimehr SH, Anbarian M, Norasteh AA, Fardmal J, Khosravi MT. The comparison of scapular upward rotation and scapulohumeral rhythm between dominant and non-dominant shoulders in male overhead athletes and non-athletes. Man Ther. 2015; 20(6): 758-762.
  3. Levangie PK, Norkin CC. Joint structure and function: a comprehensive analysis. Davis FA Company; Fifth edition. 2011.
  4. Hosseinimehr SH, Anbarian M. The Relationship between Thoracic Kyphosis with Scapular Upward Rotation and Scapulohumeral Rhythm Ratio. Med J Mashhad Univ Med Sci. 2022; 65(3): 1281-1288.
  5. Kozono N, Takeuchi N, Okada T, Hamai S, Higaki H, Shimoto T, Ikebe S, Gondo H, Senju T, Nakashima Y. Dynamic scapulohumeral rhythm: comparison between healthy shoulders and those with large or massive rotator cuff tear. Orthop Surg. 2020; 28(3): 2309499020981779.
  6. Hosseinimehr SH, Anbarian M. Effects of frontal, sagittal, and scapular surfaces on the upper and upper scapular surfaces of the scapula and the scapular rhythm. Research in Medicine. 2019; 43 (1):23-27.
  7. Fernández-de-Las-Peña C, Cuadrado M, Pareja J. Myofascial trigger points, neck mobility and forward head posture in unilateral migraine. Cephalalgia. 2006; 26(9): 1061-1070.
  8. Parsons J, Marcer N. Osteopathy: models for diagnosis, treatment and practice. Churchill Livingstone; 1st edition.2005.
  9. Parpa K, Michaelides M. Upper and Lower Body Strength Asymmetries and Shoulder Rotation Strength Ratio in Youth Tennis Players Using Isokinetic Testing. J Sports Sci. 2024; 12(1):1-9.
  10. Kim BG, Lim SK, Kong S. The Relationship between Scapular Upward Rotation and Shoulder Internal and External Rotation Isokinetic Strength in Professional Baseball Pitchers. Healthcare (Basel). 2021; 18; 9(6):759.
  11. Lee HY, Yong MS. Correlation between Forward Head Posture, Round Shoulder Posture, and Muscle Activity during the Shoulder Flexion and Abduction Task. Phys Ther Korea 2023; 35(3): 83-88.
  12. Kirupa K, Mary S, Nithyanisha R, Kumar SN. A study on the effectiveness of scapular retraction exercises on forward head posture. Indian J Public Health Res Dev. 2020; 11(6): 284-289.
  13. Weon JH, Oh JS, Cynn HS, Kim YW, Kwon OY, Yi CH. Influence of forward head posture on scapular upward rotators during isometric shoulder flexion. Bodyw Mov Thers. 2010; 14(4): 367-374.
  14. Rakholiya PA, Makwana, P. P., & Kakkad, A. (2019). To Compare the Activity of Scapular Upward Rotators during Isometric Shoulder Flexion with Forward Vs Neutral Head Posture in Normal Healthy Individuals. Indian J Physiother Occup Ther-An Int J, 13(2), 126.
  15. Hosseinimehr SH, Anbarian M. The evaluation of symmetric resting scapular posture and scapulohumeral rhythm ratio between dominant and non-dominant shoulders in elderly subjects in different humeral abduction angle. Studies in Medical Sciences 2020; 30 (11):876-882.
  16. Robert-Lachaine X, Allard P, Godbout V, Tétreault P, Begon M. Scapulohumeral rhythm relative to active range of motion in patients with symptomatic rotator cuff tears. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2016; 25(10): 1616-1622.
  17. Von Eisenhart-Rothe R, Matsen F, Eckstein F, Vogl T, Graichen H. Pathomechanics in atraumatic shoulder instability: scapular positioning correlates with humeral head centering. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005; 433: 82-89.
  18. Pashaei Z, Daneshmandi H, Norasteh A, Fatahi A. Effect of scapular movement impairment on functional stability of shoulder girdle and scapulohumeral rhythm in elite male volleyball players. The Scientific Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2022; 11(1): 64-77.