Background: Forward head posture affects many individuals and can cause pain and dysfunction in the muscles and joints of the head, neck, and shoulders. Objectives: This study aimed to assess muscle activity and onset time of cervical and scapular muscles during 180° shoulder flexion and abduction in individuals with normal head posture (NHP) and in those with forward head posture (FHP), both before and after correction. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Thirty-six individuals were divided into FHP and NHP groups. Muscle activity and muscle contraction onset time of the splenius capitis, sternocleidomastoid, upper middle and lower trapezius, and serratus anterior muscles were measured during shoulder flexion and abduction using wireless surface electromyography. Results: The FHP group exhibited increased muscle activity compared to the NHP group (P<.05), notably in the sternocleidomastoid and middle trapezius muscles, more so during shoulder abduction than flexion (P<.05). Regarding muscle contraction onset time, sternocleidomastoid onset was fastest during shoulder abduction in the FHP group (P<.05), while serratus anterior onset was slowest during both shoulder abduction and flexion (P<.05). Conclusion: These findings highlight distinct muscle activity and muscle contraction onset time patterns based on head posture and shoulder movement. Selective muscle activation strategies may help reduce heightened sternocleidomastoid and trapezius activity and enhance serratus anterior engagement in individuals with FHP.

Reductions in strength and range of motion in older persons have been associated with decreased functional mobility and risk of falls. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of intensive dynamic balance exercise (DBE) during 8 weeks on onset time of medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscle contraction after perturbation in older women. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned into DBE group or control group. The DBE group participated in 50 minutes 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Surface electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from the medial gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles of left side. Outcome data were collected both groups at the pre-exercise and post-exercise. Independent t-test and paired t-test were used to determine the statistical difference. Results showed that the passive range of motion and functional reach test were significantly increased in the DBE group than the control group at the post-exercise (p<.05). The onset time of both muscles and discrepancy of onset time significantly reduced in the DBE group than the control group at the post-exercise (p<.05). The onset time of both muscles were significantly reduced in the post-exercise than the pre-exercise in the DBE group (p<.05). The discrepancy of onset time in the DBE group was significantly reduced in the post-exercise than the pre-exercise (p<.05). These findings suggest that intensive dynamic balance exercise for the eight weeks was effective in improving the postural control with older persons.

The purpose of this study was to compare the onset times of muscle activities and the order of muscle firing in hamstring gluteus maximus, and lumbar erector spinae muscle during active hip extension between subjects with low back pain (LBP) and healthy subjects. Thirty subjects, 15 with LBP and 15 healthy subjects, participated in this study. Electromyographic activity was recorded during active hip extension in prone and standing position. Relative onset times of these muscle activities were determined. Similar muscle firing order in hamstring, gluteus maximus, and lumbar erector spinae muscle showed in both groups and positions. However, the onset time of gluteus maximus was significantly later in prone and standing active hip extension in subjects with LBP than in healthy subjects. The onset time of lumber erector spinae muscle activity was significantly delayed in subjects with LBP in standing active hip extension, The delayed onset times of gluteus maximus and lumbar erector spinae muscles' activities were probably related to LBP. Further studies are needed to identify whether the delayed onset times of gluteus maximus and lumbar erector spinae muscle activities are the contributing factors to LBP.