Background

The theory of myofascial chains (Myers 2001) postulates anatomical connections between the hip region and the cervical spine. Whether hip joint mobilisation exercises can affect cervical spine range of motion (ROM) in children has not been studied.

Aims

To investigate whether hip joint mobilisation exercises affect cervical spine ROM in healthy children with postural defects, and to evaluate potential sex-related differences in cervical ROM.

Material and methods

A single-centre pre–post pilot study was conducted on 36 participants (23 girls, 13 boys) aged 6–17 years with postural defects. Cervical ROM (flexion, extension, bilateral lateral flexion, bilateral rotation) was measured using smartphone applications (Rotating Sphere; Digital Compass) before and after three hip mobilisation exercises: the “frog”, kneeling lunges, and the “90-90” exercise. A finger-to-floor test was also performed. Data were analysed using basic descriptive statistics and paired tests; statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Statistically significant improvements were found for flexion (p = 0.048), extension (p = 0.018), right rotation (p = 0.018), and right lateral flexion (p = 0.045) of the cervical spine. The finger-to-floor test result also improved after the intervention. Sex-related differences were observed: right rotation ROM improved significantly in girls (p = 0.014) and extension ROM in boys (p = 0.028).

Conclusions

Hip joint mobilisation exercises had a statistically significant effect on cervical spine range of motion. These findings may support the myofascial chain hypothesis; however, the absence of a control group and the short intervention period call for
larger, controlled studies.