Background: forward head position is characterized by a dorso extension of the head together with the upper cervical spine (Cl-C3), accompanied by a flexion of the lower cervical spine (C4-C7), where the cervical curvature is increased, a condition called hyper lordosis, it is one of the most common problems occurred in pregnant women especially in 3rd trimester of pregnancy as a result of increasing abdominal weight, shifting of COG, breast enlargement, hyper laxity of ligaments. Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the photogrammetric quantification of the forward head posture in pregnant women. Method: sixty women (Thirty non pregnant women and thirty pregnant women) at 3rd trimester of pregnancy from (24 to 36 weeks) of gestation were selected from the outpatient clinic of obstetrics at Mostorod Medical Center, Cairo, Egypt, their age ranged from 20 to 35 years and their BMI<30Kg/m2, they were divided randomly into 2 groups equal in number, group(A)(n=30) (control group) and group B (n=30) (study group). Assessment of forward head posture was done through measuring cranio-vertbral angle (CVA) and gaze angle (GA), for all participants in both groups (A&B). Measurement was done for one shot using the photogrammetry method. Result: Showen that there was a statistical significant decrease in the mean value of CVA and GA at group B than group A (p=0.001) and (p=0.007) respectively, Also the results of the current study revealed that there wasa statistical significant positive correlation between CVA and GA in the control group (A), and there was high statistical significant positive correlation between CVA and GA in the study group (B).conclusion: forward head posture measured through photographic method is greatly affected during 3rd trimester of pregnancy compared to non -pregnant state.
