| Ergonomics advice supplemented with exercise can reduce habitual upper body postures: a randomized trial during home-schooling |
| Paper ID : 1171-SPORTCONGRESS |
| Authors |
|
Maryam Karimian *1, Razieh Karimian2, Kim Burton3, Mohammad Mehdi Naghizadeh4 1General Department, Fasa University, Fasa, Fars, Iran 2Department of Public Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Fars, Iran 3Centre for Applied Research in Health, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK 4Noncommunicable Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Fars, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Abstract Introduction: Online learning is associated with unfavorable habitual upper body postures. This study explored whether adding a remedial exercise routine to an ergonomic advice intervention, delivered remotely, is helpful for reducing habitual forward head posture. Methods: : 42 male adolescent students with a forward head posture were randomized to one of two intervention groups: ergonomic advice alone or exercise + ergonomic advice. Outcome measures were specific postural angles of forward head, shoulder protraction, and thoracic kyphosis, measured by a photogrammetric profile technique using a bespoke app before and after the 8-week intervention period. Results: During online learning, most students used mobile phones (76%), while 35% used a table-chair-computer arrangement. At 8-week follow-up, a statistically significant reduction of forward head, shoulder protraction, and thoracic kyphosis angles was found in both groups (P < 0.001). However, the effect was significantly greater in the exercise + ergonomic advice group (P < 0.001): forward head, shoulder protraction, and thoracic kyphosis angles reduced by some 9, 6, and 5 degrees respectively, compared with 4 degrees for head and 2 degrees for shoulder and thoracic angles for the ergonomic advice alone group. Conclusion: The results show that, a remedial online exercise routine is a beneficial addition to an ergonomic advice program for improving unfavorable habitual upper body postures. The impact of this intervention may extend beyond postural issues related just to online learning at home. |
| Keywords |
| online learning, posture, exercise, ergonomic advice |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
