Relationship of Forward Head Posture With Burnout and Quality of Life

NCT07891260 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: P.T.REC/012/006565
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 50
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the relationship of forward head posture with burnout and quality of life in patients with mechanical neck pain. The main questions the study aims to answer are: Is there a significant correlation between the severity of forward head posture (measured by Kinovea software) and psychological burnout (evaluated by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, MBI)? How do different degrees of forward head posture impact pain intensity, pressure pain threshold, cervical proprioception, and cognitive function (assessed via MoCA and the CogniFit application)? comparison groups: Researchers will compare Group 1 (patients with a forward head posture angle from 40 to 45 degrees) to Group 2 (patients with a forward head posture angle from 45 to 50 degrees) to see if varying degrees of forward head posture lead to different levels of physical, cognitive, and psychological impairments. Participants will: Undergo posture assessment using Kinovea software to determine their forward head posture angle and be allocated into their respective study groups. pain intensity and pressure pain threshold measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and pressure algometry. Perform a cervical proprioception test using a pointer laser device. Complete cognitive evaluations using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the CogniFit digital application. Fill out standardized questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) ,to assess burnout .

Conditions

Forward Head Posture

Keywords

burnout; cognition; forward head posture; mechanical neck pain; neck proprioception

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• burnout assessed using the Maslach Burnout inventory

  Burnout will be assessed using the Arabic version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The questionnaire consists of 22 items assessing three dimensions: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment. Each item is rated on a 7-point frequency scale ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (every day). Each dimension will be scored separately according to the scoring instructions for the instrument. score for emotional exhaustion range from 0:54 , while for depersonalization 0:30 and for personal accomplishment 0:48. Higher scores indicate greater burnout symptoms in Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization, whereas lower scores indicate reduced Personal Accomplishment.

  Baseline (at the initial assessment)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• cognition (cognitive function) assessed using Montreal of cognitive assessment

  Baseline (at the initial assessment)

• pain intensity assessed using visual analog scale.

  Baseline (at the initial assessment)

• neck proprioception assessed using joint position error test

  Baseline (at the initial assessment)

• cognition (cognitive function) assessed using cognifit application

  Baseline (at the initial assessment)

• pressure pain threshold assessed using pressure algometry.

  Baseline (at the initial assessment)

Study Arms (2)

forward head posture group 1

patients with mechanical neck pain who have forward head posture angle ranging from 40:45 degrees measured by kinovea software

Other: postural, physical, and cognitive assessment

forward head posture group 2

patients with mechanical neck pain who have forward head posture angle ranging from 45:50 degrees measured by kinovea software

Other: postural, physical, and cognitive assessment

Interventions

postural, physical, and cognitive assessment OTHER

no therapeutic intervention is provided. Participants only undergo postural evaluation (Kinovea), pain assessment (VAS and Algometry), proprioception testing, and cognitive/psychological evaluations (MoCA, CogniFit, and MBI).

forward head posture group 1; forward head posture group 2

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 35 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

A total of 50 patients of both sexes (aged 35-50 years) with mild to moderate mechanical neck pain and forward head posture will be recruited from the outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, following diagnosis and referral by a neurologist. Eligibility Criteria: Age between 35 and 50 years. Mild to moderate mechanical neck pain (assessed by VAS) with symptom duration from 6 months up to 2 years. Cooperative patients with sufficient cognitive abilities to understand and follow instructions. Group Allocation: Based on the Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) measured via Kinovea software, participants will be divided into two groups: Group 1: CVA between 40° and 45°. Group 2: CVA between 45° and 50°. Ethical Consideration: All participants will sign an informed consent form after receiving full details regarding study purpose, procedures, benefits, data privacy, and their right to withdraw

You may qualify if:

• patients of both sexes diagnosed with mild to moderate mechanical neck pain with forward head.
• Patient's age 35-50 years
• Patients with mild to moderate mechanical neck pain by VAS
• Duration of symptoms will be more than 6 months up to 2 years
• Co-operative patients with sufficient cognitive abilities that enables them to understand and follow instructions

You may not qualify if:

• Any neurological disease that causes mechanical neck pain rather than forward head posture, especially radiculopathy.
• Depressed patients
• History of cervical surgery , trauma or Severe neurological deficits (e.g., motor paralysis
• Sever mechanical neck pain
• Patients with visual or auditory impairment affecting their ability to complete the testing
• Patients with cognitive impairment

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Cairo University: lead

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Psychological

Interventions

Restraint, Physical

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior Control; Therapeutics; Immobilization; Investigative Techniques

Central Study Contacts

Ahmed Mossaed, Demonstrator/ M.Sc. researcher

CONTACT

00201069062868; amosaed79@gmail.com

Marwa Mostafa abdel moneim, lecturer of physical therapy

CONTACT

00201005661591; marwa.mostafa@cu.edu.eg

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Teaching Assistant, faculty of physical therapy BUS university

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 8, 2026
• First Posted: October 23, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): November 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 20, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027
• Last Updated: October 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share