Effect of Making Different Hairstyles With Hijab on Neck Pain, Cervical Rom, Head Posture and Quality of Life Among Young Female Students

Background and Aim: Hair style of women such as ponytails, braids, and buns with hijab pushes the head in front of the center of mass, thus placing excess strain on the neck and the shoulder. The study aimed to assess the impact of different hairstyles worn with hijab on neck pain, cervical range of motion (ROM), forward head posture (FHP), and quality of life (QoL) among young female students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 120 female participants aged 18–25 years, categorized into three groups: Group 1 (50 students with ponytail and hijab), Group 2 (50 students with hair bun and hijab), and Group 3 (20 students with braids and hijab). Inclusion criteria included wearing hijab for 2–5 years, for >6–7 h/day, and the same hairstyle for over a month. Outcome measures included neck pain intensity (Visual Analog Scale [VAS]), cervical ROM (using a goniometer), craniovertebral angle (CVA), and QoL (36-Item Short Form Health Survey). Results: Results revealed that Group 2 (hair bun) showed significantly reduced cervical flexion and extension compared to Group 1 (ponytail) and Group 3 (braids). The comparison of CVA indicated significant postural deviations, with Group 2 showing more pronounced FHP. VAS scores demonstrated more neck pain in Groups 1 and 2, with Group 3 experiencing significantly less pain. No significant differences were found in QoL across the groups, except for body pain, where Group 3 showed improvement. Conclusion: The study concluded that hairstyles, particularly the hair bun, have a greater impact on cervical ROM, neck pain, and posture, while braids show no significant effect. However, the QoL of the participants remained unaffected regardless of the hairstyle worn.