Effect of Corrective Exercise vs Corrective Games on Upper Crossed Syndrome in Female Students

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of corrective exercise and corrective games on upper crossed syndrome in female students. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study performed with the pretest-posttest method. The study sample consisted of 60 people who were selected purposely, based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and the rate of the disorder. In the study sample, the mean ± SD of age, height, and weight were 14.16 ± 1.08 years, 133.49 ± 5.59 cm, and 44.73 ± 8.24 kg, respectively. The study samples were randomly assigned into three groups: corrective exercises group (n = 20), corrective games group (n = 20), and control group (n = 20). Students with upper extremity syndrome were first identified through checkered screen screening and the New York test. Then, the subjects of both intervention groups performed the selected training programs for eight weeks, based on the defined protocols. Finally, the 1-way ANOVA, paired t test, and Bonferroni post hoc test were used to compare the between-group differences. Also, the significance level was considered as P < 0.05. Results: After eight weeks of exercise, the intra-group changes in head forward, kyphosis, and shoulder angle were significant in the corrective exercises group (P = 0.001) and the corrective games group (P = 0.001). Also, the three study groups significantly differed in frontal angle, kyphosis, and shoulder angle (P = 0.001). Conclusion: According to the findings, the corrective exercises and corrective games can effectively reduce the angle of head forward, kyphosis, and shoulder in affected persons. Therefore, researchers and specialists should plan these programs. Moreover, it is recommended to use the corrective exercises used in this study with the mentioned principles and have direct and accurate supervision of their implementation to ensure the correctness of the movements.