Comparative analysis of head tilt and forward head position during laptop use between females with postural induced headache and healthy controls

Abstract

Objectives: To compare head tilt, forward head posture, the ratio between forward head posture and maximum (manually induced) head protraction between a postural induced headache group and healthy controls. To explore the evolution trends of head tilt and forward head posture during a laptop task and comparing this evolution between the two groups. To evaluate the correlation between the evolution of head tilt and forward head posture. Methods: Angles for maximum head protraction and retraction, head tilt and forward head posture of 12 female students with postural induced headache and 12 female healthy controls were calculated from digital pictures within a cross-sectional design (while neutral sitting and performing a laptop task). Results: Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in maximum head protraction between the headache group (23.7° ± 7.9°) and the healthy controls (30.5° ± 6.0°). The ratio of forward head posture during habitual sitting to the maximum head protraction differed significantly (p<0.05) between the headache group (1.4 ± 0.4) and the healthy controls (1.1 ± 0.2). Within the headache group biphasic head tilt and forward head posture profiles were observed during the laptop task. These profiles differed significantly between groups and seemed to be negatively correlated within groups (-0.927). Head tilt and forward head posture variances were larger in the headache group. Conclusion: During sitting the headache group showed a larger maximum head protraction and a less close to the end range forward head posture. During the laptop task forward head posture and head tilt behaved biphasically with a more static forward head posture pattern and a more dynamic head tilt pattern in the headache group.