Correlation Between Forward Head Posture and Executive Functions in Cervical Radiculopathy

Condition(s) studied

Study summary

PURPOSE:

This study aims to:

* Investigate the relationship between Forward Head Posture (FHP), Pain Intensity and executive functions in patients with Cervical Radiculopathy (CR).
* Investigate whether the severity of Forward Head Posture (FHP) is correlated with the degree of executive dysfunction in this population.

BACKGROUND:

Forward head posture (FHP) is a condition characterized by anterior translation of the head, resulting in sagittal plane misalignment of the cervical spine. It has become increasingly common in the digital era due to prolonged screen use and sedentary lifestyles. Previous studies have reported that this altered posture and the associated mechanical load on the cervical spine may be correlated with deficits in executive functions, including attention, processing speed, and working memory in older adults.

Executive function refers to higher-order cognitive processes responsible for goal-directed behaviour, such as maintaining and manipulating information in short-term memory and selecting task-relevant information. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a central role in regulating these functions through its extensive neuroanatomical connections with multiple cortical and subcortical brain regions, allowing it to participate in several neural networks involved in cognitive control.

Recent evidence suggests that cognitive dysfunction may arise not only from localized lesions within these networks but also from degenerative or functional alterations affecting their integrity.

HYPOTHESES:

* There will be no significant association between Forward Head Posture (FHP), Pain Intensity and executive functions in patients with Cervical Radiculopathy.
* There will be no significant correlation between the severity of Forward Head Posture and the degree of executive dysfunction in this population.

RESEARCH QUESTION:

Is there an association between Forward Head Posture (FHP), Pain intensity and executive dysfunction in patients with Cervical Radiculopathy (CR)?

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Cognitive inhibition assessed by CogniFit Stroop Test — Baseline (single assessment session at enrollment)
  Cognitive inhibition will be assessed using CogniFit's Stroop test, a digitized replica of the original task. The participant is asked to press the spacebar (go action) only if the color name on the screen is printed in the matching color, and to refrain from pressing (no-go) if the color of the letters does not match the printed color name. Performance on the test will be recorded as the outcome score.
• Mental flexibility assessed by CogniFit Trail Making Test (TMT) — Baseline (single assessment session at enrollment)
  Mental flexibility will be assessed using CogniFit's Trail Making Test, a digitized replica of the original task. It consists of two parts. In Part A, participants see numbers inside circles and tap them in ascending order. In Part B, participants see both numbers and letters and must alternate between them in ascending sequence (e.g., 1-A-2-B). The test should be completed as quickly as possible, with faster completion times indicating better performance.
• Working memory assessed by CogniFit Digit Span Test — Baseline (single assessment session at enrollment)
  Working memory will be assessed using CogniFit's Digit Span Test, a digitized replica of the task of the same name. The participant is required to remember and reproduce increasingly longer number sequences that appear one at a time on the screen. The test begins with a two-number sequence.

Trial sites (1)

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