The increasing use of smartphones and other digital devices has contributed to a rise in forward head posture (FHP) among younger populations due to prolonged poor neck positioning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cervical stabilization exercises (CSE) and cervical proprioception training (CPT) on FHP. In this single-blinded randomized controlled trial, where only the outcome assessors were blinded, 99 participants (aged 18–24) with FHP were randomly allocated into three groups: Group-I (n = 32), which received no exercises; Group-II (n = 34), which received CSE; and Group-III (n = 33), which received both CSE and CPT. Groups II and III performed the exercises three times per week for six weeks. The joint position error (JPE) test was used to assess proprioception, the craniovertebral angle (CVA) was used to evaluate posture, and the Stork and Y Balance tests were used to assess balance at baseline and after six weeks. Results: The study included 99 participants (mean age: 18.1–19.6 years; BMI: 21.4–23.1 kg/m²). Technology usage analysis revealed that 19.2% of participants reported > 7 h/day of phone use, while the majority (80.8%) used computers for ≤ 1 h/day. Significant group × time interactions were found for JPE (flexion/extension/rotation, p < 0.001), with Group III showing superior gains versus Group II and controls (p ≤ 0.001). Dynamic balance improved in intervention groups (p ≤ 0.04), and CVA increased significantly in Group II/III (p ≤ 0.03). Static balance improved over time (p < 0.001) but without intergroup differences. No sex-based effects were observed (p > 0.05) The addition of CPT to CSE was found to be more effective than CSE alone in restoring proper proprioception and balance and in reducing poor posture in individuals with FHP. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov website with registration no: NCT06932965, date: 10/04/2025. Retrospectively registered.

BACKGROUND: Hands execute intricate tasks vital for everyday life and professions such as cooking, tailoring, and craftsmanship. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to establish reference data for hand grip and palmar pinch force sense in young adults, accounting for gender differences, and to determine the correlation between these data and school-entry ages. METHODS: The cross-sectional observational study comprised 284 participants (156 females and 128 males). Demographic details, including age, gender, weight, and height, were recorded. Participant ages ranged from 18 to 29, representing the youth workforce population as defined by the International Labour Organization. Factors like hand dominance and school-entry age were ascertained based on participants’ self-reports. Hand grip and palmar pinch force senses were separately assessed in the dominant and non-dominant hands of 130 randomly chosen participants to evaluate test-retest reliability. RESULTS: Hand grip (dominant: p < 0.001, non-dominant: p = 0.002) and palmar pinch force sense errors were significantly lower in male participants compared to females. Palmar pinch force sense error for the dominant hand was reduced in males (p = 0.002), but no significant disparity existed between genders for the non-dominant hand (p = 0.222). Healthy adults who began school at age five or earlier exhibited a decreased force sense error rate (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Force sense error reference values vary based on gender and school-entry age. This reference data will aid rehabilitation specialists working with young adults in physiotherapy and occupational therapy fields in identifying potential impairments.

Background: Mothers caring for children with physical disabilities experience sustained physical and psychological demands; however, evidence simultaneously examining physical activity, functional limitation, pain, caregiver burden, and mental health within local caregiving contexts remains limited. Objective: This pilot study aimed to explore the multidimensional associations between physical and psychological health outcomes and health-related quality of life in mothers caring for children with physical disabilities in Türkiye. Methods: Forty volunteer mothers residing in Yalova, Türkiye, were assessed using the IPAQ–SF, BDI, SF-36, ZBI, ODI, DASH, and SF-MPQ. Data were analyzed in SPSS 26.0 using correlation analyses and exploratory multiple linear regression models, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Descriptive statistics, Pearson or Spearman correlation analyses, and exploratory multiple linear regression models were applied. Results: The mean age was 38.52 ± 9.10 years. Depression (BDI) and functional limitation showed pronounced negative associations with quality-of-life domains (e.g., General Health: r = −0.749, p < 0.001). Moderate physical activity was associated with higher vitality, social functioning, and mental health (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The findings suggest co-occurring links between psychological distress and physical functioning in caregiving mothers. Within the exploratory scope of this pilot study, multidisciplinary approaches that integrate physiotherapy and psychosocial support may be relevant for supporting caregiver health needs.

Aim: To evaluate changes in handgrip strength during different tasks. Materials and Methods: A total of 125 volunteers participated. Handgrip strength was assessed using a hand dynamometer under six different conditions. Results: Female participants showed a tendency to increase grip strength as balance difficulty increased, however, the addition of cognitive tasks led to a decrease (p0.05), but similar to females, grip strength decreased with the addition of cognitive tasks (p<0.05). Conclusion: Preventing the decrease in grip strength during cognitive tasks in both genders, and preventing the increase in grip strength during additional balance tasks in women, are considered to be effective in reducing the risk of injuries and workplace accidents.

Background: Burnout is common among academicians and is linked to both mental and physical health problems. However, its connection to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate how burnout, job stress, and work–life balance are related to multisite musculoskeletal pain in academicians. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 99 academicians at Yalova University completed validated instruments assessing MSDs, burnout, work-related stress, and work–life balance. The study employed a voluntary convenience sampling method and included academicians who agreed to participate. Data were analysed using correlation and ordinal regression analysis. Results: The one-year prevalence of MSDs was 88.9% and most commonly involved the neck, lower back, and upper back. While overall burnout scores were not significantly related to the number of painful regions, the number of painful regions was positively correlated with job stress and computer usage and negatively with work–life balance and personal accomplishment (p < 0.05). Ordinal regression analysis showed that job stress, computer usage, and impaired work–life balance were associated with greater multisite pain burden (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Although overall burnout was not associated with multisite musculoskeletal pain, psychosocial factors such as job stress and work–life balance were significantly related to multisite pain. These findings suggest that occupational stress may be linked to physical health outcomes before the full manifestation of burnout develops. Addressing job stress and work–life balance may help reduce MSDs among academicians.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the duration of computer and visual display terminal (VDT) use and cervical proprioception and dynamic balance performance in healthy young adults.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 125 healthy university students aged 18-25 years. Participants’ age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and weekly durations of computer and technological device use were recorded. Cervical proprioception was assessed using the Cervical Joint Position Error Test (CJPET), and dynamic balance was measured with the Y Balance Test (YBT). Multiple linear regression and Pearson correlation analysis were performed to investigate the associations between computer and technological device usage duration, cervical joint position error, and dynamic balance performance. Results: The mean age of the participants was 21.46±1.94 years, consisting of 99 females (79.2%) and 26 males (20.8%). The regression models for CJPET flexion, extension, right rotation, and left rotation were nonsignificant (F=0.812, 0.400, 0.869, and 0.393; Adjusted R²=0.046, 0.036, 0.023, 0.007, respectively). Similarly, the YBT composite models for right and left limbs were not significant (F=0.475 and 0.574; Adjusted R²=0.040 and 0.032, respectively). In addition, Pearson correlation analysis revealed no significant associations between computer or technological device usage duration and cervical joint position error or YBT composite scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: Prolonged computer and technological device use, within non-symptomatic limits, is not associated with impaired cervical joint position sense or dynamic balance performance in healthy young adults. These findings suggest that young, healthy individuals may maintain effective proprioceptive and postural control potentially through adaptive neuromuscular mechanisms. Ergonomic education, regular posture correction, and periodic movement breaks are recommended to prevent long-term sensorimotor strain associated with sustained screen exposure. Further studies including symptomatic populations and ergonomic, postural, or psychosocial variables are recommended to clarify the multifactorial effects of prolonged digital device exposure.