Effect of Eight Weeks of Ergonomics Education and Corrective Exercises on Postural Angles in Young Men with Upper Crossed Syndrome: A Quasi-Experimental Study

SeyedAhmadi, Mohammad; Khalaghi, Karim; Madadi, Sajad; Khalaghi, Yasaman

doi:10.22059/sshr.2026.391989.1184

Effect of Eight Weeks of Ergonomics Education and Corrective Exercises on Postural Angles in Young Men with Upper Crossed Syndrome: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mohammad SeyedAhmadi ¹

Karim Khalaghi ²

Sajad Madadi ²

Yasaman Khalaghi ³

¹ Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Velayat University

² Department of Sport Sciences, Hakim Nizami Qochan Institute of Higher Education, Quchan, Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

³ Department of Sport Sciences, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/sshr.2026.391989.1184

Abstract

Background: UCS is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and an increased kyphosis angle.

Aim: This investigation aimed to study the impact of 8 weeks of ergonomics education and corrective exercises on UCS in men aged 18-30.

Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study examined men aged 18 to 30 with UCS in Quchan. Forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to three groups (16 each): corrective exercise, ergonomic intervention, and control. Postural angles, including forward head, forward shoulder, and thoracic kyphosis, were measured using a flexible ruler and a digital camera. Data analysis was conducted using Repeated Measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests at α < 0.05.

Results: The corrective exercise group achieved significantly greater improvements in all postural measures compared to both the ergonomic and control groups. Specifically, the forward head angle improved by 7.98° (p < 0.001), and the kyphosis angle decreased by 7.19° (p < 0.001). The rounded shoulder angle also improved significantly versus the ergonomic group (p < 0.001), but not the control group (p = 1.000).

Conclusion: Corrective exercises were more effective than ergonomic interventions or control Group, in improving postural abnormalities associated with upper crossed syndrome.

Keywords

Upper Cross Syndrome

ergonomics

corrective exercises

men

posture