Comparison of Sensorimotor Integration and Athletic Performance between Collegiate Athletes with and Without Forward Head Posture

Objective: to evaluate sensorimotor integration and athletic performance for participants with forward head posture (FHP) compared to strictly matched control participants with normal head alignment. Design: Case control. Methods: We measured FHP, sensorimotor processing, and athletic performance variables in 50 participants with FHP defined as having a craniovertebral angle (CVA) 55°. Sensorimotor processing and integration variables included: 1) amplitudes of the spinal N13, 2) brainstem P14, 3) parietal N20, P27, and 4) frontal N30 potentials. Athletic performance variables included: 1) T-test agility, 2) leg power, 3) stork static balance test, and 4) Y-balance test (YBT). Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the FHP group and control group for the sensorimotor integration variable: frontal N30 potentials (p< .005). Additionally, between group differences were found for the sensorimotor processing variables: amplitudes of spinal N13 (p< .005), brainstem P14 (p< .005), and parietal N20 and P27 (p< .005). Further, statistically significant differences between groups for the athletic performance variables were identified: T-test agility (p< .005), leg power (p< .005), stork static balance test (p< .005), and YBT (p< .005). The magnitude of the CVA correlated with all measured variables (p< .001). Conclusion: Collegiate athletes with FHP exhibited altered sensorimotor processing and integration measurements and less efficient athletic performance compared to those with normal sagittal head posture alignment. Funding Information: This study was self funded Declaration of Interests: Dr. Deed Harrison (DH) lectures to health care providers on rehabilitation methods and is the CEO of a company which sells products to physicians for patient care to aid in improvement of postural and spine ailments as described in this manuscript. All other authors have no conflicts of interest related to this project. Ethics Approval Statement: Ethics approval was obtained from our university, and informed consent was provided to and obtained from all participants prior to data collection in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.