PHYSIOLOGICAL AREA   

Medicina dello Sport 2016 March;69(1):24-40

Copyright © 2016 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Effects of strengthening, stretching and comprehensive exercise program on the strength and range of motion of the shoulder girdle muscles in upper crossed syndrome

Elham HAJIHOSSEINI, Aliasghar NORASTEH, Ali SHAMSI, Hassan DANESHMANDI, Sareh SHAHHEIDARI

Department of Sport Injuries and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of strengthening, stretching and comprehensive exercise program on range of motion (ROM) and isometric strength of shoulder muscles in patients with upper crossed syndrome.
METHODS: In the present study, 30 females students with excessive forward head (>46), forward shoulder (>52) and kyphosis (>42) angle were enrolled using purposive sampling method. The average of age, weight, height and Body Mass Index of the samples were 22.13±1.77 years, 61.36±1.95 kg, 162.10±2.80 cm, and 23.35±0.9 kg/m2, respectively. The subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 experimental subjects each. The first experimental group performed strength training, the second group stretch training and the third group comprehensive training for 6 weeks. In this study, photogrammetric method technique was used to measure the angle of the forward head and forward shoulder. A flexible ruler was used to measure the angle of kyphosis (r=0.93). Leighton gravity flexometer and manual dynamometer were used for measuring glenohumeral rotary ROM and isometric strength of scapulothoracic muscles, respectively. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and SPSS (21) (P≤0.05).
RESULTS: Significant increase in the range of rotary motion, isometric strength of rotator muscles were observed, and isometric strength of lower trapezius, upper trapezius and serreatus anterior muscles in shoulder of three types of exercise (strength, stretch, comprehensive training) was found after 6-week training (P≤0.05). Also, a significant increase in isometric strength middle trapezius and rhomboid muscles in strength training was observed after 6 weeks (P≤0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the stretching and strengthening exercises are effective in increasing ROM and strength of the shoulder girdle muscle in patients with upper crossed syndrome and led to improve forward head and forward shoulder and kyphosis in this people.