Is Neck Pain Related to Sagittal Head and Neck Posture?: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background Neck pain (NP) is common in all age groups and adversely affects the patients’ entire lifestyle. There exists inconclusive evidence relating faulty craniocervical posture with pain-related disability. This review aims to determine whether sagittal head and neck posture differs in NP and pain-free subjects, to critically appraise the correlation of posture with NP. Methods Of 3796 articles identified at primary search from CINAHL, PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, 26 were included based on eligibility criteria. Mean pooled difference (MPD) and effect size (ES) were calculated to establish relationship among studies, to assess postural correlation with NP measures [Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), neck disability index (NDI), Northwick Park NP Questionnaire (NPQ)] and for age- and gender-wise variation. Risk of bias was assessed using Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Results Craniovertebral angle (CVA) had a significant MPD of − 2.93(95% CI − 4.95 to − 0.91). Sagittal head angle (SHA) and forward head posture (FHP) had an insignificant MPD of 1.15 (95% CI − 1.16 to 3.46) and − 0.26 (95% CI − 1.89 to 1.36), respectively. Age- and gender-wise CVA difference was found to be 2.36° and 2.57°, respectively. ES was significant for correlation between CVA and pain intensity [NPRS: − 0.44 (95% CI − 0.61 to − 0.26); VAS: − 0.31 (95% CI − 0.46 to − 0.16)], and between CVA and disability [NDI: − 0.18 (95% CI − 0.31 to − 0.05); NPQ: − 0.47 (95% CI − 0.61 to − 0.320)]. Conclusion CVA differs for age, gender, and pain vs pain-free subjects, and correlates negatively with NP measures. Other surrogate measures (SHA, cranial and cervical angles, FHP) warrant further research. PROSPERO Registration PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021275485.