Immediate Effects of Vibrating Foam Rollers on Neck Pain, Muscle Stiffness, and Cervical Proprioception in Patients with Forward Head Posture

Abstract

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of applying non-vibrating and vibrating foam roller exercises on neckpain, the upper trapezius muscle, sternocleidomastoid muscle stiffness, and cervical proprioception in patients with forward head posture (FHP).

Methods/Statistical analysis: In this study, 24 adult male and female patients in their 20s who had FHP were randomly assigned to either a non-vibrating foam roller group (NVFRG; n=12) or a vibrating foam roller group (VFRG; n=12). As a pretest, neck pain, muscle stiffness, and cervical proprioception were measured in both groups. After applying one set of intervention in each group, pain, stiffness, and proprioception were measured and analyzed in both groups as a posttest.

Findings: The neck pain and upper trapezius stiffness were significantly decreased in the VFRG (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the sternocleidomastoid muscle stiffness and proprioception (P>0.05). In the NVFRG, we found no statistically significant differences in all the variables (P>0.05).Statistically significant differences in neck pain and upper trapezius stiffness (P<0.05) but no statistically significant differences in sternocleidomastoid muscle stiffness and proprioception (P>0.05) were observed between the NVFRG and VFRG.

Improvements/Applications: Therefore, our results suggest that the application of a vibrating foam roller exercise in patients with FHP would improve neck pain and muscle stiffness.