Spinal postural training: Comparison of the postural and mobility effects of electrotherapy, exercise, biofeedback trainer in addition to postural education in university students
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:Spinal posture and mobility are significant for protecting spine. The aim was to compare effects of different postural training interventions on spinal posture and mobility. MATERIAL AND METHOD:Ninety-six university students (ages: 18–25 years) were allocated into Electrical Stimulation (ES) (n=24), Exercise (n=24), Biofeedback Posture Trainer (Backtone) (n=24), and Postural Education (n=24, Controls) groups. All the groups got postural education. The interventions were carried out 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Spinal Mouse® device (Idiag, Fehraltorf, Switzerland) was used to detect thoracic and lumbar curvatures and mobility (degrees) in standing and sitting positions. Paired Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, and pairwise post-hoc tests were used. RESULTS:ES decreased thoracic curvature, the exercise decreased thoracic and lumbar curvature and increased thoracic mobility in standing position between pre-post training (p<0.05). Exercise and Backtone improved thoracic curvature in sitting (p<0.05). In Exercise Group, thoracic curvature decreased compared to Backtone and Education Groups, and thoracic mobility increased compared to all groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The exercise was effective and superior in improving thoracic and lumbar curves, and mobility among university students. ES decreased thoracic curve. Biofeedback posture trainer improved sitting posture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:A prospective randomized controlled trial, Level 1.
Keywords: Back posture, posture education, electrical stimulation, exercise, orthotic device
