Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies

Abstract
Background & Objectives: Upper cross syndrome can be the reason for many disorders in the body. The movement performance and walking are among the most essential human movement patterns. Based on the view of researchers such as Jenda, the body is seen as a whole. Also, researchers have studied the effects of various abnormalities, such as scoliosis and inferior cruciate syndrome, on movement patterns, gait factors, and the displacement of the center of pressure. Thus, it can be concluded that other abnormalities, such as upper cross syndrome, also affect movement and walking patterns and the body's center of mass. Accurate evaluation and recognition of functional factors, status of high stepping indicators, plantar pressure distribution, and center of pressure fluctuations, as well as comparisons with healthy people, can be a suitable tool to apply training interventions for sports and movement science specialists. Therefore, the current research aims to answer whether upper crossed syndrome affects the temporal-spatial parameters of walking and functional indices and static balance in women with upper cross syndrome.
Methods: The statistical population of the present study included people with upper cross syndrome and healthy people; 30 people were selected as a sample based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The current research method was casual-comparative. Gait parameters and head-forward and shoulder-forward angles were evaluated by a digital camera, center of pressure by Wii Balance Board (WBB), kyphosis angle by flexible ruler, and performance indicators by FMS kit. The inclusion criteria for the study were as follows: being non-athletic women aged 20-30 years, having three abnormalities simultaneously ( hyperkyphosis, forward head, and forward shoulder); having hyperkyphosis greater than 42 degrees (diagnosis method via flexible ruler); forward head greater than 45 degrees (diagnosis method by determining the angle from the digital image); forward shoulder greater than 52 degrees (determination angle from digital image); lacking any associated pathological symptoms such as a history of surgery in the spine, pelvis and shoulder; not having any abnormality in the pelvis and back such as hyperlordosis or any imbalance in the pelvis (diagnosis method via assessment and observation); lacking any injury or history of fracture or sprain in the lower limbs in the last year (via questionnaire); not having a deviation in the spine greater than 10 degrees (scoliosis) (via scoliometer); not showing deformity in the knee (bracketed or crossed knee) (measurement of the epicondyle distance of the knee); and lacking deformity in the ankles (supination and pronation) (calcaneus angle from the posterior view in the coronal plane and mirror box). Of these, fifteen eligible subjects were selected as volunteers. Also, pain, dissatisfaction, and unwillingness to continue the exercise were among the exclusion criteria. To investigate the difference between the group of healthy people and those with upper crossed syndrome, we used an independent t test.
Results: The results showed that in terms of the spatial-temporal parameters of walking (step length, walking speed, step frequency, step time, right step length, left step length, and symmetry index), there was no significant difference between the upper cruciate and healthy subjects between the two groups of people with the syndrome (p>0.05). However, there was a significant difference in the level of FMS functional indices between the two groups of people with upper cross syndrome and healthy people (p<0.001). Also, there was a significant difference between the two groups of people with upper cross syndrome and healthy people in the displacement of the center of pressure, including anterior-posterior and internal-external oscillations (p<0.001).
Conclusion: It seems that in upper cross syndrome, the spatiotemporal variables of walking are not disturbed, and other parameters should be considered in identifying the causes and complications of this abnormality. On the other hand, this syndrome affects performance indicators and balance. Therefore, it is recommended that the corrective movement trainers consider the above factors in rehabilitating and correcting this syndrome.