07/08/2025
Why do we spend so much time and energy on Forward Head Posture? Check out this new paper published in a high level journal from Chiropractic BioPhysics!
PRESS RELEASE - Breaking Research News!
Forward Head Posture Overloads the Brain’s Balance System
New Study Reveals Forward Head Posture Places Significant Burden on the Brain’s Motor Control Systems
Congratulations to the authors Dr. Ghydaa Anwar, Dr. Ibrahim M. Moustafa, Dr. Iman Khowailed, Dr. Monica Raja Kumari Raghunathan, Dr. Rabah Al Abdi, and Dr. Deed E. Harrison on the publication of their groundbreaking study in Scientific Reports. Their research has uncovered compelling neurophysiological evidence that forward head posture (FHP) imposes a significant compensatory burden on the brain, especially during physically demanding balance tasks. Conducted through an international collaboration between the University of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi University, and CBP Nonprofit, this study breaks new ground in understanding how postural misalignment alters brain-muscle coordination.
This study was a graduate student project of Ghydaa Anwar for partial fulfillment of her Masters of Science degree under Professor Ibrahim Moustafa and in collaboration with Dr. Deed Harrison of CBP NonProfit. Participants with FHP exhibited markedly elevated Corticomuscular coherence (CMC) across all brainwave frequencies—especially in the beta and gamma bands—during increasingly difficult balance conditions.
“This research demonstrates that forward head posture is not merely a musculoskeletal issue,” said Dr. Deed Harrison, “It alters how the brain and muscles coordinate, suggesting that the body must recruit more cortical resources to maintain balance and stability.”
The study highlights how FHP may contribute to inefficient motor control, fatigue, and long-term neuroplastic changes—making it a key factor in chronic pain syndromes and fall risk. It also positions CMC as a promising biomarker for detecting and treating posture-related neural dysfunction.
The findings bolster the case for proactive postural correction strategies, such as those used in Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®), to restore not only spinal alignment but also optimal neurological function.
🔗 Full Article (Open Access):
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06603-8
