Background: Child care center teachers are exposed to musculoskeletal injuries caused by repetitive movements at low heights due to the nature of their jobs. Self-myofascial release (SMFR) improves flexibility, pain, and functional performance. Pectoralis minor self-stretching (PMSS) improves muscle flexibility and postural alignment. PMSS has been commonly used to correct a rounded shoulder posture (RSP). Objectives: To examine the shoulder height, muscle tone, muscle stiffness, and muscle elasticity for women child care center teachers with RSP. Design: Randomized study. Methods: The participants were 20 women child care center teachers with RSP. They were randomly assigned two groups: SMFR group (n=10) and PMSS group (n=10). They performed each exercise for 20 min, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. They measured shoulder height, muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity of upper trapezius before and after exercise. Results: In the shoulder height, there was no significant difference between two groups. There were significant decreases within both groups. In the muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity, there was no significant difference between two groups and within two groups. Conclusion: SMFR using a hard massage ball and PMSS have a positive effect on posture correction for child care center teacher with RSP.

PURPOSE: 본 연구의 목적은 둥근어깨자세(round shoulder posture)와 전방머리자세 (forward head posture)에 따라 폐활량 측정과 산소포화도 및 횡격막 움직임 크기의 상관관계를 알아보는 것이다. METHODS: 연구의 대상은 만성 심장질환 및 호흡기 질환을 가지고 있거나, 정신적, 인지적 장애가 있는 자, 척추옆굽음증(scoliosis)이 있는 자, 목과 갈비뼈 손상이나 수술 병력이 없는 50명의 자원한 사람으로 선정되었습니다. 통계분석은 피어슨(Pearson)의 상관분석을 실시한다. RESULTS:둥근어깨자세는 FVC,FEV1,FEV1/FVC%,PEF 에 대해 양의 상관계수를 보이고 이중 PEF가 가장 상관성이 높았다(p<.05). 횡격막 움직임의 크기(DMD)에 대해서도 양의 상관계수를 보였다. 그러나 TAD(table acromion distance)와는 음의 상관관계를, SPO2는 PM/C7~acro, TAD(table acromion distance) 둘다 음의 상관관계가 나타났다(P>.05). 전방머리자세는 CVA와 CRA 모두 FVC,FEV1,FEV1/FVC, PEF 비율에 대해 유의한 상관관계가 없다(p>.05). CRA와 DMD에는 유의한 차이가 있는 음의 상관관계가 나타났지만(p<.05), CVA와 DMD에는 유의한 상관관계가 발견되지 않았다. 또한 CVA와 CRA 모두 SPO2에 대해 유의한 상관관계가 없다(p>.05). CONLUSION: 결론적으로 전방머리자세의 각도와 둥근어깨 자세에 따라 폐활량과 횡격막 움직임에 영향을 미친다는 것을 확인 할 수 있었다. 하지만 좀더 많은 인원과 대상자들의 경직된 자세에 대해 제한할 방법을 추가적으로 찾을 필요가 있다.

Background: Generally, rounded shoulders may occur when an individual habitually takes a relaxed, slouched posture. Although various studies on the round shoulder exist, studies on the effect of improvement of thoracic mobilization on the round shoulder are insufficient. Objectives: To investigate the effect of thoracic mobilization on round shoulders and pulmonary capacities. Design: Randomized controlled trials. Methods: Twenty subjects were randomly allocated into an exercise group (n=10) and a mobilization group (n=10). To quantify the round shoulder before and after the intervention, the distance between the acromion and the table surface was measured, and the pulmonary capacities were also measured. The intervention program was conducted twice a week for 6 weeks. The exercise group performed corrective exercise, and the mobilization group performed both corrective exercise and thoracic mobilization. Results: The round shoulder in both groups was significantly decreased (P<.05), and the pulmonary capacities were significantly improved (P<.05). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>.05). Conclusion: The combination of corrective exercise with stretching and strengthening exercises led to the improvement of round shoulders and pulmonary capacities, no additional benefits were detected with thoracic mobilization.

Background: Round shoulder posture, results from excessive flexed posture of the thorax, is defined as a position of scapular protraction, anterior tipping, and downward rotation. However, previous studies have focused on only passive position of the thorax during scapular posterior tilting (SPT) and have not reported on SPT combined with correction of flexed posture. Objects: The aim of this study was to compare effects of SPT and SPT with prone trunk extension (SPT + PTE) on activities of the lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and thoracic erector spinae and degree of posture in subjects with round shoulder and flexed posture. Methods: Fifteen subjects with round shoulder and flexed posture were recruited. The caliper was used to measure the degree of round shoulder and flexed posture. Electromyography was performed to collect data of muscle activities. Paired t-test was used to compare two exercise (α=.05). Results: When SPT + PTE was applied, the degree of round shoulder posture (p=.001) and flexed posture (p=.039) significantly decreased compared with that when SPT was applied. The lower trapezius activity significantly increased in the SPT + PTE condition compared with that in the SPT condition (p=.026). There were no significant differences in serratus anterior activity between SPT + PTE and SPT. The thoracic erector spinae activity significantly increased in the SPT + PTE condition compared with that in the SPT condition (p=.014). Conclusion: SPT + PTE might be one of the effective methods to enhance activities of lower trapezius and thoracic erector spinae, and to reduce round shoulder posture and flexed posture in subjects with round shoulder and flexed posture.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of visual electromyography (EMG) biofeedback on the EMG activity of the lower trapezius (LT), serratus anterior (SA), and upper trapezius (UT) muscles, the LT/UT and SA/UT EMG activity ratios, and the scapular upward rotation angle during scapular posterior tilting exercise (SPTE). Twenty-four subjects with round-shoulder posture participated in this study. The EMG activities of the LT, SA, and UT were collected during SPTE both without and with visual EMG biofeedback. The scapular upward rotation angle was measured at the baseline, after SPTE without visual EMG biofeedback, and after SPTE with visual EMG biofeedback. The LT, SA, and UT EMG activities, and the LT/UT and SA/UT EMG activity ratios were analyzed by paired t-test. The scapular upward rotation angle was statistically analyzed using one-way repeated analysis of variance. If a significant difference was found, a Bonferroni correction was performed (p=.05/3=.017). The EMG activities of LT and SA significantly increased, and the EMG activity of UT significantly decreased during SPTE with visual EMG biofeedback compared to SPTE without visual EMG biofeedback (p<.05). In addition, the LT/UT and SA/UT EMG activity ratios significantly increased during SPTE with visual EMG biofeedback compared to SPTE without visual EMG biofeedback (p<.05). Significant increases were found in the scapular upward rotation angle after SPTE without and with visual EMG biofeedback compared to baseline (p<.017), and no significant differences were observed in the scapular upward rotation angle between SPTE without and with visual EMG biofeedback. In conclusion, SPTE using visual EMG biofeedback may be an effective method for increasing LT and SA activities while reducing UT activity.