Neck SECM size and asymmetry measurements and the ratio of SECM size to body weight as well as APD appeared to be useful parameters to detect neck muscle atrophy in patients with CNNP.

Forward Head Posture (FHP) results in spine malalignment, muscle imbalance and cervical proprioception sensory input impairment. Subjective description of FHP is interpreted differently by clinicians and therefore the FHP is classified as slight, moderate and sever. This study aimed to evaluate balance disorder in individuals with severe forward head posture (FHP). Twenty individuals with severe FHP and 20 controls were enrolled. Dynamic postural stability was assessed in all participants using the Biodex Balance System (BBS) in semi dynamic position with eye open/eye closed conditions. Based on the findings, dynamic postural stability in the sagittal plane was different between the groups (P<0.05). It can be concluded that impairment of dynamic postural stability occurs in individuals with severe FHP. The findings suggest that clinicians take into account the importance of dynamic postural stability assessment in FHP subjects and consider the application of intervention programs for improvement of the dynamic balance.

An acceptable reliability is needed for each scale and a valid decision-making process. Ultrasonography is a simple, cost-effective, and accessible tool compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess echo intensity (EI) as a biomarker of muscle function in neck musculoskeletal problems. However, no evidence is available regarding the reliability of neck muscle echogenicity according to rehabilitative ultrasonography in clinical studies on forward head posture (FHP). We determined the reliability of neck muscles EI in individuals with and without FHP. Transverse images of deep neck flexors (Longus Coli) and suboccipital (Rectus capitis posterior minor) muscles were acquired from 20 individuals with FHP and 20 controls in one session. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), minimum detectable change (MDC), and standard error of measurement (SEM) for EI were measured in this study. The ICC, SEM, and MDC ranges were 0.50 -0.51, 2. 73 -3.41, and 7.56 -9.46 for the Longus colli muscle and 0.48 -0.49, 3.29 -4.98, and 9.13 -13.81 for the rectus capitis posterior minor (RCPm) muscle, respectively. Based on the present findings, EI showed acceptable reliability; therefore, it can be used for assessment of neck muscle morphology.