Effects of an 8-week selective corrective exercises program on electromyography activity of scapular and neck muscles in persons with upper crossed syndrome: Randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES

Postural disorders disturb muscle activity and lead to joint dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week selective corrective exercises program on electromyography activity of scapular and neck muscles in persons with upper crossed syndrome (UCS).

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Exercise evaluation was conducted in a laboratory setting.

PARTICIPANT

Study recruited 30 healthy males with UCS from university students, who were then randomly divided into the control group (age = 20.14 ± 1.71 years; height = 176.86 ± 4.7 cm; BMI = 21.20 ± 1.96 kg/m) and the exercise group (age = 21.44 ± 2.06 years; height = 174.2 ± 4.0 cm; BMI = 20.62 ± 3.9 kg/m).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Electromyography activity of upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), serratus anterior (SA), and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) was recorded before and after 8-week exercise program.

RESULTS

T-test results revealed that baseline activity of SA (P < 0.05), had increased while UT (P < 0.05) and SCM (P < 0.05) activity as well as UT/SA (P < 0.05) and UT/LT (P < 0.05) ratios had decreased. In connection with these finding the effect sizes were large.

CONCLUSION

Eight week corrective exercises balance muscles activity and can be used to manage developing upper quadrant musculoskeletal disorders in person with UCS.