Publication:

Comparative effectiveness of posture correction exercises versus postural awareness on forward head posture, protruded shoulder and thoracic kyphosis in 13-15 year old smartphone users: a randomized controlled trial intervention protocol

Background Rise in smartphone use among high school students aged 13-15 has leads to musculoskeletal issues like forward head posture (FHP), protruded shoulders, and thoracic kyphosis. To prevent these problems, it's essential to teach students proper posture exercises and raise their awareness about maintaining good posture. Primary objective of this study is to determine the efficacy of posture correction exercises and postural awareness techniques on FHP, protruded shoulder, and thoracic kyphosis.

Methods This randomized clinical trial will assess the impact of an intervention on FHP, protruded shoulders, and thoracic kyphosis in 170 smartphone addicted participants who will be randomly allocated to control and interventional group. Smartphone addiction will be measured using the smartphone addiction scale-short version (SAS-SV), and postural changes will be evaluated with cranio vertebral angle (CVA), the supine method, and an inclinometer measurement before and after the intervention. Follow up will be done after 3- and 6-months post intervention. If data is normally distributed, paired ‘t’ test and independent ‘t’ test will be used for in group and between group analysis, ANOVA with post-hoc test (Bonferroni-t test) for follow up analysis otherwise non parametric equivalent tests will be used. The results will be presented in the form of 95% CI and with p≤0.05.

Conclusions If postural correction exercises and awareness effectively reduce FHP, protruded shoulders, and thoracic kyphosis in 13-15-year-old smartphone users, integrating these techniques into daily routines could prevent future postural issues related to smartphone addiction. Trial registration: This randomized clinical trial registered prospectively. Registration Number: CTRI/2024/07/ 069802.