Effects of forward head rounded shoulder posture on shoulder girdle flexibility, range of motion, and strength

The objective of this study was to determine if clinical measures of flexibility, range of motion and strength were different between people with and without Forward Head Rounded Shoulder Posture (FHRSP). In this study we measured the flexibility, range of motion, and strength of the right arm of twenty two FHRSP and fifteen ideal posture subjects. All measures of flexibility and range of motion were measured with a digital inclinometer. Mean and peak values (N) of strength were measured with a hand-held dynamometer. There were no significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) seen in flexibility, range of motion, or strength between groups. The clinical assumptions of FHRSP were not supported in this study using common clinical tests. These findings introduce the idea that differences may be in the neuromuscular control of the shoulder girdle and not in the actual strength and flexibility of muscles and tissue.