Document Type : Original Article
Researcher
Master's student in Sports Pathology, specializing in First Aid, Department of Pathology and Corrective Movements, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University.
Ministerial Ethics Committee
This study aims to investigate the prevalence of forward head posture and its negative effects on health and performance. Forward head posture leads to changes in the length of the anterior and posterior body muscles, which can decrease the force-producing capacity of the muscles. The objective of the research is to compare the acromion-brachial distance and the thickness of the rotator cuff muscles in overhead athletes with and without forward head posture. The research hypotheses include a significant difference in the thickness of the rotator cuff muscles and the acromion-brachial distance between the two groups.
The sample population includes young overhead athletes (15 to 19 years old) in Saveh. To evaluate forward head posture, the participants are assessed in a relaxed standing position, and the shoulder angle is measured using a camera and Image J software. The criterion for forward head posture is a shoulder angle less than 52 degrees. Additionally, the thickness of the shoulder muscles is measured using ultrasound. Statistical analyses are performed using SPSS. This study aims to provide more knowledge in the field of shoulder abnormalities and assist in their correction and treatment.