Aynollah Naderi - School of Sport Sciences, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran
Vendy B.Katzman - Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States of America

Background: Sway back posture (SBP) is a common postural deviationof sagittal alignment and is the most common postural deviation in ۱۸to ۲۸-year-old individuals, but there is no standard exercise protocolfor treating SBP. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of theglobal corrective exercise intervention (GCEI) on spinal posture ofhealthy individuals ۱۸-۲۵ years of age with SBP.Methods: This study was a randomized controlled design with aparallel group, two-arm trial with ۱:۱ allocation ratio. Seventyparticipants (mean age ۲۰.۹ ± ۲.۱ years) with SBP (⩾ ۱۰°) wereenrolled in the study for ۱۲ weeks. The participants were randomlyassigned to an exercise (n = ۳۵) or control group (n = ۳۵). Thetargeted global spine strengthening and stretching exerciseintervention included core and postural training, delivered by acorrective exercise specialist in ۲ groups of ۲۰ and ۱۵ participants ۳times a week for ۱۲ weeks. Forward head angle and sway angle weremeasured using a digitized side-view photograph. Kyphosis index andllordosis index were measured using a flex curve ruler.Results: The ۱۲-week intervention program resulted in significantwithin group differences in forward head, kyphosis, lordosis andpostural sway angle (P < ۰.۰۰۱). There was also a significant betweengroup difference in the changes of all postural variables (P < ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusions: The GCEI resulted in improved sway back posture in oursample of ۱۸-۲۵-year-old participants. This study supports thetheoretical basis for clinical rehabilitation of postural deviations.Further studies are required to generalize these findings to other ageand population groups.

Posture, Sway back, Corrective exercise, Spinal alignment