Kendall Exercises With and Without Positional Release Therapy in Upper Crossed Syndrome
Effects of Kendall Exercises With and Without Positional Release Therapy on Pain, Range of Motion, Craniovertebral Angle and Disability in Patients With Upper Crossed Syndrome
Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) is a prevalent musculoskeletal disorder characterized by a specific pattern of muscular imbalance and postural dysfunction. This condition arises from prolonged poor posture. The resulting imbalance often manifests as visible postural changes, including rounded shoulders, forward head posture, and increased thoracic kyphosis. UCS is characterized by tightness and weakness of the neck, shoulders, and upper back muscles that cross between the dorsal and the ventral sides of the body. Postural abnormalities associated with UCS include a forward head posture (FHP), cervical lordosis, thoracic hyper kyphosis, protracted and elevated shoulders (round shoulders), and scapular winging with increased internal rotation and abduction.
In UCS, neck and chest muscles, such as the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), levator scapulae, Pectoralis major and minor, Scalenes, and Upper Trapezius (UT), are tightened or shortened, whereas muscles of the neck and posterior upper back, such as the Deep Neck Flexors (DNFs), Serratus Anterior (SA), Rhomboids, Middle Trapezius (MT), and Lower Trapezius (LT), are weakened, stretched, and restrained. Opposite-group muscle imbalances in UCS bring postural disturbances, misalignments in the upper limbs, and atlanto-occipital, cervicothoracic, and glenohumeral joint dysfunction. The muscular imbalances may also lead to various musculoskeletal symptoms, such as headaches, neck pain, chest pain, upper back pain, tingling in the upper arms, or a limited range of motion in the neck or shoulders.
The alteration in scapula muscles in UCS affects the movement of the scapula, which acts as a bridge and provides mobility and stability to the shoulders and neck. A proper posture is necessary for optimal functional performance in daily activities. The awkward positions put constant pressure on the joints, and degenerative changes in joints progress rapidly when exposed to sustained pressure, causing muscle imbalances and pain. If a muscle imbalance continues and progresses, this may lead to altered movement patterns and joint damage, creating further dysfunction.
The main risk factor for developing UCS is maintaining an abnormal posture for a prolonged duration. Some daily activities that involve bad postures are often occupation-related. Repetitive tasks or continuous work for long hours can aggravate postural deviations. For example, patients with improper postures are more prone to musculoskeletal injuries after handling or lifting heavy objects than others with a proper posture. Musculoskeletal pain, most commonly neck pain, may present as the main symptom of UCS. Musculoskeletal pain may increase in relation to standing continuously or improperly sitting for long hours.
調査の概要
状態
状態
条件
条件
介入・治療
介入・治療
詳細な説明
With the rise in sedentary lifestyles and prolonged use of digital devices, the prevalence of UCS has significantly increased. Individuals with UCS often experience cervical pain, limited range of motion, headaches, and functional impairments. Effective rehabilitation strategies are essential to correct muscle imbalances, reduce pain, and restore mobility. Diagnostic criteria for UCS involve assessing the imbalance of shoulder, neck, and chest muscles, the inward curving of the spine at the neck, and the protrusion of shoulder blades. Management of UCS focuses on correcting abnormal posture, restoring neuromuscular balance, and alleviating pain. Various physiotherapeutic approaches, including manual therapy, stretching, strengthening, and postural training, are employed.
Two commonly used interventions in the management of UCS are Kendall exercises and Positional Release Therapy (PRT). Kendall's exercises are a system of therapeutic movements developed by Florence Peterson Kendall and colleagues, grounded in the principles outlined in their influential textbook Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain .These exercises are specifically designed to address postural abnormalities by correcting muscle imbalances through targeted stretching and strengthening techniques.
Positional Release Therapy (PRT) is a gentle, passive manual therapy technique developed by Dr. Lawrence Jones in the 1950s. It involves placing the body in a position of comfort often shortening the affected muscle for a sustained period (usually 90 seconds), which helps to reduce muscle spindle activity, relieve pain, and restore normal tissue tone. The technique is believed to facilitate a resetting of the proprioceptive and nociceptive responses in the affected tissues.
This study will help to determine the more effective intervention between Kendall exercises alone and Kendall exercises combined with Positional Release Therapy in individuals with Upper Crossed Syndrome. The findings will assist clinical physiotherapists in developing optimal treatment plans for managing postural dysfunction, pain, and mobility limitations associated with upper crossed syndrome.
研究の種類
研究の種類
入学 (推定)
入学
段階
段階
- 適用できない
連絡先と場所
研究連絡先
研究連絡先
- 名前：Syed Shakil ur Rehman, PhD Physical Therapy
- 電話番号：+92 320 786661
- メール：shakil.urrehman@riphah.edu.pk
研究場所
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Lahore、パキスタン、54000
- 募集
- Riphah International University
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Punjab Province
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Lahore、Punjab Province、パキスタン、54000
- 募集
- Riphah Rehabilitation Clinic
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コンタクト：
- Syed Shakil ur Rehman, PhD
- 電話番号：+92 320 7866611
- メール：shakil.urrehman@riphah.edu.pk
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参加基準
適格基準
適格基準
就学可能な年齢
健康ボランティアの受け入れ
受講資格のある性別
説明
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 20 and 40 years.
- Both Male and Female.
- Clinical diagnosis of Upper Crossed Syndrome (Pectoralis major contracture test, Pectoralis minor contracture test, Upper trapezius muscle length test, Lower and Middle trapezius weakness tests will be done).
- Forward Head Posture (Craniovertebral angle (CVA) ≤ 48°).
- Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) score of ≥ 4).
- Neck pain for more than 4 weeks but less than 6 months NDI.
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of cervical spine trauma, fractures, or surgery
- Systemic musculoskeletal disorders
- Spinal Deformities
- Ongoing physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment
- Severe scoliosis or spinal deformities
研究計画
研究はどのように設計されていますか？
デザインの詳細
- 主な目的：処理
- 割り当て：ランダム化
- 介入モデル：並列代入
- マスキング：ダブル
アーム数
武器と介入
参加者グループ / アーム参加者グループ / アーム |
介入・治療介入・治療 |
|---|---|
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実験的：Group A
Kendall Exercises with Positional Release Therapy |
Kendall's exercises and the Positional Release Technique (PRT) offer complementary physical therapy approaches for managing Upper Cross Syndrome. Kendall's framework, grounded in manual muscle testing and detailed postural analysis, restores alignment by pairing selective strengthening of weak muscles with selective stretching of tight ones. Its protocol incorporates chin tucks, shoulder blade squeezes, scapular depression, chest stretches, wall slides, and thoracic extensions. Exercises are executed in 3-6 sets of 10-15 reps, holding each for 10 seconds to enhance scapular control and correct forward head posture. Conversely, PRT-developed by Dr. Lawrence Jones-is an indirect soft-tissue therapy aimed at reducing muscle spasms and hypertonicity without stretching. Clinicians identify tender points and passively position the tissue into a shortened state of ease, holding it for 90 seconds to reset muscle spindle activity before returning to neutral. |
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アクティブコンパレータ：Group B
Kendall Exercises |
Kendall's exercises, derived from the foundational work of Florence and Henry Kendall, provide a targeted physical therapy framework for addressing Upper Cross Syndrome through precise postural analysis and manual muscle testing. The core strategy centers on correcting muscle imbalances by selectively strengthening inhibited, weak muscles while stretching tight, shortened ones to restore proper posture and alignment. To counteract forward head posture and scapular dysfunction, the protocol incorporates chin tucks to strengthen deep cervical flexors, prone shoulder blade squeezes for middle trapezius and rhomboids, and scapular depression or retraction for lower and upper trapezius control. Flexibility is restored using doorway stretches for tight pectoralis muscles, along with targeted stretches for the upper trapezius and levator scapulae. Wall slides and foam roller thoracic extension further improve scapular movement and spine mobility. Exercises are routinely performed for 3 to 6 |
この研究は何を測定していますか？
主要な結果の測定
主要な結果の測定
結果測定 |
メジャーの説明 |
時間枠 |
|---|---|---|
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Numeric Pian Rating Scale
時間枠：Baseline; Week 3; Week 6
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Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). It is a uni-dimensional scale to measure pain intensity, particularly in adults. It is a 10-rating scale and an 11-point numeric scale in the form of a horizontal bar or line. Zero is no pain, and 10 is intolerable/worst pain. |
Baseline; Week 3; Week 6
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Neck Diability Index (NDI)
時間枠：Baseline; Week 3; Week 6
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This questionnaire will be used to assess disability. It comprises of 10 items; 7 related to daily living activities, 2 related to pain and 1 related to concentration. Each item is scored from 0 to 5. Total score is expressed as a percentage, with higher scores related to greater disability |
Baseline; Week 3; Week 6
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Craniovertebral Angle
時間枠：Baseline; 3 Week; 6 Week
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The craniovertebral angle (CVA) is a commonly used clinical indicator for evaluating forward head posture, which is a prominent feature of Upper Crossed Syndrome (UCS). It is measured by drawing a horizontal line through the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) and a second line from C7 to the tragus of the ear. A smaller CVA reflects a greater degree of forward head posture, with angles less than 50 degrees typically considered abnormal |
Baseline; 3 Week; 6 Week
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協力者と研究者
捜査官
捜査官
- 主任研究者：Syed Shakil ur Rehman, PhD、Riphah International University
出版物と役立つリンク
一般刊行物
- Mujawar JC, Sagar JH. Prevalence of Upper Cross Syndrome in Laundry Workers. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2019 Jan-Apr;23(1):54-56. doi: 10.4103/ijoem.IJOEM_169_18.
- Firouzjah MH, Firouzjah EMAN, Ebrahimi Z. The effect of a course of selected corrective exercises on posture, scapula-humeral rhythm and performance of adolescent volleyball players with upper cross syndrome. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2023 Jun 14;24(1):489. doi: 10.1186/s12891-023-06592-7.
- Khosravi Z, Mohammad Ali Nasab Firouzjah E, Firouzjah MH. Comparison of balance and proprioception of the shoulder joint in girls with and without upper cross syndrome. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024 Aug 2;25(1):618. doi: 10.1186/s12891-024-07552-5.
- Zhang C, Zhang J, Yang G. Association between internet addiction and the risk of upper cross syndrome in Chinese college students: A cross sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Jul 28;102(30):e34273. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000034273.
- Shaheen A, Kazim H, Eltawil M, Aburukba R. IoT-Based Solution for Detecting and Monitoring Upper Crossed Syndrome. Sensors (Basel). 2023 Dec 26;24(1):135. doi: 10.3390/s24010135.
研究記録日
主要日程の研究
研究開始 (実際)
研究開始
一次修了 (推定)
一次修了
研究の完了 (推定)
研究の完了
試験登録日
最初に提出
最初に提出
QC基準を満たした最初の提出物
QC基準を満たした最初の提出物
最初の投稿 (実際)
最初の投稿
学習記録の更新
投稿された最後の更新 (実際)
投稿された最後の更新
QC基準を満たした最後の更新が送信されました
QC基準を満たした最後の更新が送信されました
最終確認日
最終確認日
詳しくは
本研究に関する用語
追加の関連 MeSH 用語
その他の研究ID番号
その他の研究ID番号
- Tania Ziaullah Khan
個々の参加者データ (IPD) の計画
個々の参加者データ (IPD) を共有する予定はありますか?
医薬品およびデバイス情報、研究文書
米国FDA規制医薬品の研究
米国FDA規制機器製品の研究
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