Reviewed by Maggie McPherson, SPT
Article:
Effect of TheraBand Exercises on Rounded Shoulders Associated with Pulmonary Capacity in Young Adults: A Pre-Post Intervention Study published in Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy DOI: 10.37506/cbecx947
Introduction
Rounded shoulder posture is increasingly common in today’s sedentary world. Rounded shoulder posture can lead to upper extremity pain and dysfunction. What some people may not know is that the posture can also lead to changes in breathing capacity by changing certain postural and respiratory muscles’ ability to fully expand the rib cage.
Methods
This study is a pre-post intervention design that looked at the effects of Thera Band exercises on improving rounded shoulder posture and breathing capacity. Twenty-three young adults between the ages of 18-23 years, both male and female, were recruited for the study. The intervention program consisted of a TheraBand training program and pectoralis minor and pectoralis major stretching. The Thera Band resistance increased one level each week. The program frequency was 4 days a week for 3 weeks. Rounded shoulder posture was measured in supine with a measuring tape (distance from highest point of shoulder to table in cm). Pulmonary capacity was measured by spirometry, including Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV-1) and Functional Vital Capacity (FVC).
Results
After 3 weeks of the Thera Band exercise program, there were statistically significant improvements in rounded shoulder posture (p<0.001) and non-statistically significant improvements in both FEV-1 and FVC (p>0.001).
Discussion
These results demonstrate that a simple Theraband exercise and stretching program could demonstrate improvements in rounded shoulder posture in just 3 weeks. This could be useful to improve and prevent upper extremity pain and dysfunction. It is unclear from these results whether these exercises can improve breathing capacity. A larger, broader sample size and a randomized control group would be needed. As there was no control group or randomization in this study, no causation can be determined from these results. However, these results lay a promising foundation for future studies.
Reference
Anitha M, Tamatta S, bhosle S. Effect of TheraBand Exercises on Rounded Shoulders Associated with Pulmonary Capacity in Young Adults: A Pre-Post Intervention Study. Indian Journal of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy. 2024;18(3):46-50. doi:10.37506/cbecx947