Effects of Magnetic Therapy and Biofeedback on Craniovertebral Angle, Balance Control, and Cervical Proprioception in Young Adults

Background: Forward head posture (FHP) and cervical proprioceptive deficits are increasingly prevalent among young adults due to prolonged digital device use. These dysfunctions are associated with impaired neuromuscular control, decreased postural stability, and elevated risk of neck pain. This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of magnetic therapy and tilt-sensor-based biofeedback on cervical joint position sense, craniovertebral angle (CVA), and static balance control. Methods: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 27 college students aged 20–25 years. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: biofeedback (B group), magnetic therapy (M group), or a combination of both (BM group). Each intervention was administered for 30 minutes. Outcome measures included joint position error (JPE), CVA, and balance indices—stability index (SI) and weight distribution index (WDI)—collected before and after intervention. Results: The M group demonstrated significant improvements in JPE during left rotation and flexion (p<0.05). Between-group analysis showed significant differences in JPE flexion (p=0.003), particularly between the BM and M groups (p=0.0015). No statistically significant changes were observed in CVA or static balance measures across any group. Conclusion: Magnetic therapy showed immediate improvements in selected measures of cervical proprioception, while biofeedback alone or in combination demonstrated no significant short-term effects. However, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary immediate effects rather than evidence of established clinical utility. Future studies should investigate longer intervention periods and broader clinical populations to determine sustained efficacy and clinical relevance.