Four weeks of exercise regimen for sedentary workers with rounded shoulder posture: a randomized controlled study

Rounded shoulder (RS) posture causes neck and shoulder pathologies. Mechanical correction taping (MCT) is often incorporated into postural corrective therapies; however, its effects on muscle stiffness are unclear.

We investigated the effect of MCT with different tape fabrics, along with exercise, on upper trapezius and pectoralis minor muscle stiffness and the posture of sedentary workers.

A randomized controlled study was performed at Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey.

The study included 39 workers with RS posture. Two intervention groups (performance tape: PT and classic tape: CT) were taped twice a week and administered a home exercise program for 4 weeks. The control (C) group performed only home exercises. RS was measured using an acromion-testing table (AT), stiffness using shear wave elastography ultrasound, and shoulder angle (SA) using a smartphone application at baseline and 4 weeks. Time and group interactions were determined using 3 × 2 mixed analysis of variance.

Intragroup analyses revealed a significant main effect of time on AT distance (η2 = 0.445) and SA (η2 = 0.325) in the PT and C groups (P < 0.05) and left upper trapezius stiffness (η2 = 0.287) in the CT and C groups (P < 0.05). In the post hoc analyses, no difference was noted between the groups from baseline to 4 weeks (P > 0.05).

Scapular MCT added to postural exercises did not show any difference between the intervention groups and controls in terms of muscle stiffness and posture in sedentary workers.