Comparison of Oculomotor Exercises Versus Suboccipital METs on Visual Fatigue Among FHP

Riphah International University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Visual Fatigue; Forward Head Posture

Treatments: Other: Oculomotor Exercise along with conventional Therapy; Other: sub-occipital muscle energy technique along with Conventional Therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06707766

REC/02020 Amna Rashid.

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this research is to compare the effect of Oculomotor Exercises and Muscle energy technique on visual fatigue, proprioception, Craniovertebral angle among patients having Forward head posture.. It will raise awareness about the link between posture and visual health, encouraging early identification of visual symptoms associated with FHP, enhance recovery outcomes, improve functional performance, and promote a holistic treatment approach, ultimately provide benefit to population.

Full description

Studies have shown that integrating eye exercises with neck strengthening exercises has a significant effect in managing symptoms associated with visual disturbances and neck pain. For instance, a study conducted in 2024 to investigate the effect of oculomotor exercises in patients having chronic neck pain. Based on the result, they found that incorporating oculomotor exercises along with conventional exercises into treatment plan can significantly improve gaze stability, proprioception, visual acuity and fatigue in chronic neck pain patients. In 2023 study investigate the effectiveness of manual techniques for the management of FHP. They found that sub-occipital muscle energy technique is effective in improving CVA, cervical range of motion and postural alignment. study conducted in 2023 investigated the comparative effect sub-occipital muscle energy technique vs sub-occipital release in mechanical neck pain and FHP population. They concluded that group receiving MET show significant improvement in CVA, NDI and Cervical ROMs. Another research concluded that Sub-occipital muscle energy technique incorporating with proprioceptive training are effective in improving joint position sense (proprioception) and CVA in FHP population. A study evaluate the effectiveness of eye exercises on computer vision syndrome. They concluded the ocular exercises are effective in reducing visual fatigue symptoms such as eye itching, dryness and headache.

This research is innovative as it explores the interconnected roles of ocular muscles and sub-occipital muscles on visual fatigue, proprioception, and postural imbalances, particularly in FHP patients. As Literature suggest that tightness of suboccipital affect somatosensory input and proprioceptive information crucial for head and eye coordination. Thus, offering a comprehensive view of how FHP and visual fatigue are interconnected. Furthermore, the integration of oculomotor exercises in managing FHP-related visual fatigue is an underexplored as the existing literature primarily focuses on the musculoskeletal consequences of forward head posture and ocular exercises for visual disturbance without exploring the interaction between these factors. This research aimed to bridge the existing gap in literature by providing evidence-based guidance on the effectiveness of METs and oculomotor exercises in the management of visual symptoms associated FHP.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age 20-50 years
• Both Male and Female
• Diagnosed patients of Forward head posture, Craniovertebral Angle less than 50 degree.
• Patients having Asthenopia survey questionnaire (ASQ-17) score of 13 or higher.

Exclusion criteria

• Participant failing to fall in this category would be excluded of the study.
• Pre-existing medical conditions that cause visual issues such as conjunctivitis, cataract, Strabismus anomaly, glaucoma and those undergoing any eye treatment.
• Any previous neck and Eye surgery.
• Cervical conditions such as cervical radiculopathy, non-specific neck pain, and TMJ dysfunction that cause visual disturbances.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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44 participants in 2 patient groups

oculomotor exercises along with conventional therapy

Experimental group

Description:

oculomotor exercises along with conventional therapy

Treatment:

Other: Oculomotor Exercise along with conventional Therapy

sub-occipital muscle energy technique along with Conventional Therapy

Experimental group

Description:

Sub-occipital muscle energy technique (PIR) 3 reps \* 1 set conventional therapy: Hot pack 20 minutes Kendall exercises were performed as follows: strengthening exercise: 12 repetitions\* 3 sets, 2-8 sec hold stretching exercise was: 3 reps\* 30 seconds' hold 1. Strengthening the deep cervical flexors 2. Stretching the cervical extensors 3. Strengthening shoulder retraction 4. Stretching of the pectoralis major muscle

Treatment:

Other: sub-occipital muscle energy technique along with Conventional Therapy