Outcome measures
FHA
SECONDARY, THORACIC
All outcome measures were carried out by a research assistant who was blinded to group allocation. The measurements were taken at baseline at the end of the intervention period and one month after the end of the intervention period (one month follow-up).The primary outcome was FHA, measured from the vertical line to a line connecting the tragus and the seventh cervical vertebra [The secondary outcomes included cervical flexion range of motion (CROM), and FVC. Cervical flexion was measured using the CROM instrument. The CROM instrument was placed on the participant’s head while they were in the sitting position. The participant was instructed to move the neck slowly into flexion until they had reached maximum flexion. The validity and reliability of the data obtained with the CROM instrument was shown to be satisfactory [FVC was measured by using a spirometer (Vyaire medical, Germany) based on the American Thoracic Society’s recommendation for diagnostic spirometry. While seated on a chair, the participants were instructed to inhale as deeply as possible through the mouthpiece and then exhale as forcefully as possible. This procedure was repeated three times, and the average value was used for analysis.