Statement of Problem: Craniocervical Posture is a factor in the development and function of Craniofacial Structure. Previous studies of different samples have demonstrated associations between craniocervical Posture and craniofacial morphology. Purpose: This study aimed to examine whether any significant association is evident or not between craniocervical Posture and the occurrence of Class II & Class III skeletal malocclusions.Materials and Methods: A sample of 76 subjects with Class II & Class III skeletal malocclusion aged 9-11 and>18 years were selected. None of them had received orthodontic treatment. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken in natural head position (NHP), and craniocervical and craniohorizental angels were traced and determined for analysis of craniocervical Posture.Results: According to the craniocervical Posture, most class II skeletal patients have flexed heads and class III skeletal patients have extended heads, as a result malocclusion in these patients seems to become more severe. With increase in age, class II skeletal patients have more flexed their heads and malocclusion become more severe, while with increase in age in class III skeletal patients, their heads become extended and once again malocclusion thought to be more severe. In class II skeletal patients, craniocervical Posture has a significant correlation with the vertical growth pattern, but shows little correlation with the horizontal growth pattern. In class III skeletal patients, craniocervical Posture shows no correlation to any of the vertical & horizontal growth patterns, of course the mean of vertical angles is less in these patients and probably in order to make this relation significant in Class III skeletal patients there is need for more samples. In class II & class III skeletal patients, the amount of Na.prep-point A and pog-Na.prep with craniocervical Posture shows a significant correlation.Conclusion: Consideration of craniocervical Posture (in addition to cephalometric angles) lead to making better treatment planning.

Background: It has been shown that five deficits of the proprioceptive system and poor motor skills are associated with chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, the exact mechanism is unknown. The objectives of this study were to assess the dynamic postural balance behavior of CLBP patients, as well as the effects of a specific exercise therapy for the treatment of CLBP and related postural imbalances.Methods: Sixteen females with CLBP and 30 healthy females all between 20 and 40 years of age, of similar height and weight, voluntarily participated in this study. Patients underwent a three-month therapeutic exercise program. The disability and back pain of the patients were measured using the Oswestry and Quebec questionnaires, respectively. A dynamic stability platform system (Biodex) was used to evaluate the postural imbalances in both groups. All measurements of the experimental group were repeated after the therapy.Results: Overall deviation of center of gravity (COG) from COBOS in patients and controls were 3 (±0.3) and 1.3 (±0.2), respectively. Thus, postural imbalances were 2.3 times greater in the patients than those of the controls. After the treatment, the disability and pain of the patients were diminished by 53% and 58%, respectively. Furthermore, with the improvement of the patients COG deviation, both groups had similar Posture.Conclusions: The postural orientation of CLBP patients was significantly improved by the therapeutic exercise program. The applied exercise therapy significantly reduced both the pain and the disability of the patients. Based on these conclusions, we recommend that postural correction be included in regular therapeutic exercise programs.

Abnormal head Posture (AHP) is an important clinical sign which may be due to non-ocular or ocular causes. Because of disperse data in the literature, this review of articles was performed. Data base search with the keywords "abnormal head Posture" was performed from 1975 to 2004. The main etiologies of AHP, case reports with specific causes, therapeutic interventions, and any significant points regarding AHP were gathered. An AHP should alert the examiner to search for various conditions and its proper interpretation is an important step in diagnosis and therapy. Ocular causes should be ruled out in any case of AHP. AHP due to ocular causes can be observed in conditions related to extraocular motility or may occur to increase quality of visual acuity or visual field. Comitant and incomitant deviations, supranuclear palsies, A and V patterns, nystagmus, and central nervous system disorders are causes of ocular torticolis. Facial asymmetry can be a feature of a long-standing congenital or acquired AHP.

Background and Aim: Forward Head Posture (FHP) is one of the most common postural abnormalities in the cervicothoracic region that can lead to muscle imbalance and probably future pain. However, there is no study available assessing muscle strength in these patients compared with healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 FHP and 16 healthy individuals were recruited after signing the informed consent. The strengths of cervical flexor and extensor muscles were assessed using handheld dynamometer in supine and prone lying positions, respectively. Three 5-second trials of maximum voluntary isometric contraction of cervical flexion and extension were performed with 1-minute rest interval between them and the mean value of the trials was considered for further analysis. Results: FHP group demonstrated significantly lower cervical muscle strength in both flexion (P=0. 001) and extension (P=0. 000) directions as compared with those of healthy participants. There was no significant difference between flexor and extensor muscles in either FHP or healthy participants (P<0. 05). Conclusion: FHP individuals exhibited flexor and extensor muscles weakness in comparison with participants. Findings of the present study intensify the necessity of muscle strengthening program for FHP individuals as well as all asymptomatic computer users or people that have prolonged driving or sitting habit in their routine lifestyle.

Background and Aim: According to the modern life style that includes lack of adequate physical activity, incorrect position while working with computer, and long term driving, forward head Posture is a whidespread problem. As forward head Posture can change the vertebral column position in sagittal plane and muscle lengthtension and it may change kinematic of scapula and incorrect scapular kinematic can lead to shoulder pathologies and shoulder pain, it is important to recognize the scapular kinematic in patients with forward head Posture. The aim of the present study was to evaluate scapular kinematic in patients with forward head Posture using lateral scapular slide test and the compare it with that in healthy individuals. Materials and methods: A total of 45 women with forward head Posture and 45 matched healthy individuals participated in the present study. To evaluate and diagnose the forward head Posture, photography method was used and to evaluate scapular kinematic, lateral scapular slide test was used. Results: There was a significant difference in the asymmetry of scapula in all test positions of lateral scapular slide test between the two groups. Conclusion: Our results indicated that the forward head Posture can cause more asymmetry of the scapula and so it is important to evaluate scapular kinematic in these patients.