title: Effects of Kinesio taping and exercise on forward head posture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the effects of Kinesio taping and therapeutic exercise on correcting forward head posture.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare Kinesio taping versus therapeutic exercise for forward head posture on static posture, dynamic mobility and functional outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty subjects (31 women, 29 men) with forward head postures participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to either one of the three groups: (1) exercise group (n = 20), (2) taping group (n = 20), and (3) control groups (n = 20). The horizontal forward displacement (HFD) between ear lobe and acromion process, upper cervical and lower cervical angle (UCA, LCA), active range of motion (AROM) of cervical spine, and neck disability index (NDI) were measured before and after a 5-week intervention, and a 2-week follow-up. Data were analyzed by means of a mixed design repeated-measures ANOVA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both taping and exercise groups showed significant improvements in HFD compared with the control group at post-treatment and follow-up. Compared with the control group, the exercise group exhibited significant improvements in the LCA and the side bending AROM at post-treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Kinesio taping and therapeutic exercise improve forward head posture after intervention and a 2-week follow-up. The effectiveness of therapeutic exercise is better than taping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsu-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Shi
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Su-Chun
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsun-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Rong
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jin-Shiou
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Dajia Lees General Hospital Lees Medical Corporation, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Shuang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui-Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tsou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055052:Athletic Tape; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Forward head posture; Kinesio taping; therapeutic exercise