Vol. 6, Issue 9, Part F (2020)

Background: Upper cross syndrome (UCS) is a condition which mainly arises as a result of muscular imbalances that usually develops between tonic and phasic muscles. Tonic muscles are the muscles that most of the time become tight i.e. over facilitated whereas phasic muscles are the muscles that are shortened and inhibited. Upper Crossed Syndrome involves rounded shoulders and forward head posture which results in reduced craniovertebral angle, cervical spine range of motion and increased incidence of chronic neck pain due to muscular imbalances. A high incidence of postural abnormalities (forward head=66%, kyphosis=38%, right rounded shoulder=73%, left rounded shoulder=66%) was observed in the TCS [thoracic cervical shoulder] region in a group of healthy subjects between the ages of 20 and 50 years. The Feldenkrais Method improves the way in which the brain coordinates posture and movement. By engaging the brains ability to relearn and change, the Feldenkrais method improves the exchange of relevant information between the nervous system and muscles, and as a result movement becomes more comfortable.

Outcome Measures: Visual analogue Scale (VAS), Craniovertebral angle measurement (CVA), Cervical Spine ROM.

Method: This study included 40 subjects having Upper Cross Syndrome with 20 subjects in each group. Group A received Feldenkrais Exercise along with Conventional Treatment and Group B received only Conventional Treatment with 5 treatment sessions per week over a period of 3 weeks.

Result: Intergroup analysis was done using unpaired t-test which showed significant improvement in Group A subjects (Feldenkrais Exercise along with Conventional Treatment) for reducing chronic neck pain (p<0.001), improving forward head posture (p<0.001) and improving cervical spine range of motion (p<0.001) post treatment.

Conclusion: The study showed significant difference in reducing chronic neck pain, improving forward head posture and in improving cervical spine range of motion in both the group. Inter group analysis showed that Feldenkrais Exercise along with Conventional Treatment was more effective than only Conventional Treatment in reducing chronic neck pain, improving forward head posture and improving cervical spine range of motion in young patients with upper cross syndrome at the end of 3 weeks.