Effects of Tilt Sensor-Based Biofeedback Training and Repetitive Peripheral Magnetic Stimulation on Cervical Joint Position Sense and Craniovertebral Angle in Young Adults

The aim of this study was to investigate the short-term effects of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) and tilt-sensor biofeedback training on cervical proprioception and craniovertebral angle (CVA) in young adults. Fifteen healthy participants (13 male and 2 female) from K University were randomly assigned to either the rPMS or the biofeedback group. The rPMS intervention was applied to the upper trapezius using a magnetic stimulation device (G-500, Stratek, Korea) for 20 minutes at 1 Hz, with stimulation delivered for 10 seconds followed by 5 seconds of rest. The biofeedback group performed 30 minutes of posture training using a tilt-sensor device that emitted an auditory cue when the head deviated from neutral alignment. Cervical proprioception was evaluated using joint position error (JPE) during flexion, extension, and left–right rotation tasks, and CVA was measured using ImageJ analysis from lateral-view photographs. No significant pre–post changes in CVA were observed in either group (p > 0.05). In contrast, the rPMS group demonstrated a significant reduction in flexion JPE (p < 0.05), indicating improved proprioceptive accuracy following the intervention. The biofeedback group showed a significant improvement in left-rotation JPE (p < 0.05), whereas the other directions demonstrated non-significant trends toward improvement. These findings suggest that rPMS enhances proprioception by increasing afferent sensory input and neuromuscular activation, while tilt sensor biofeedback promotes postural awareness and motor learning. Overall, both interventions showed selective benefits for cervical proprioception. However, changes in global postural alignment were not evident after a single session. rPMS and biofeedback training may serve as valuable early rehabilitation strategies for addressing proprioceptive deficits in individuals exhibiting early signs of forward head posture (FHP).