EFFECTIVENESS OF THORACIC MOBILITY EXERCISES VERSUS FOAM ROLLER TRAINING ON INDEX OF KYPHOSIS AND THORACIC EXPANSION AMONG YOUNG ADULTS WITH HYPERKYPHOSIS – A COMPARATIVE STUDY
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Abstract
Background: Postural thoracic hyperkyphosis is increasingly observed among young adults and may be associated with reduced thoracic mobility, altered sagittal alignment, and restricted chest expansion. Conservative physiotherapy interventions, including thoracic mobility exercises and foam roller training, may improve these impairments; however, direct comparative evidence in young adults is limited.
Objective: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of thoracic mobility exercises and foam roller training on the Index of Kyphosis and Thoracic Expansion in young adults with postural hyperkyphosis.
Methods: A comparative study was conducted among 80 young adults aged 18–27 years with thoracic hyperkyphosis. Participants were randomly allocated into Group A (thoracic mobility exercises, n=40) and Group B (foam roller training, n=40). Both groups received intervention 3 days per week for 3 weeks. The Index of Kyphosis was assessed using a flexicurve ruler, and Thoracic Expansion was assessed using measuring tape. Within-group changes were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, while between-group comparisons were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvement following intervention. In Group A, the Index of Kyphosis decreased from 40.75 ± 0.78 to 39.38 ± 1.03 (p=0.001; effect size=2.19), while Thoracic Expansion increased from 1.83 ± 0.34 cm to 2.75 ± 0.33 cm (p=0.001; effect size=2.76). In Group B, the Index of Kyphosis decreased from 40.98 ± 0.97 to 38.53 ± 0.99 (p=0.001; effect size=4.10), and Thoracic Expansion increased from 2.23 ± 0.52 cm to 3.43 ± 0.47 cm (p=0.001; effect size=4.34). Post-intervention between-group differences favored foam roller training for both outcomes (Index of Kyphosis: p=0.001; Thoracic Expansion: p<0.001).
Conclusion: Both thoracic mobility exercises and foam roller training improved kyphotic posture and thoracic expansion in young adults with postural hyperkyphosis. Foam roller training demonstrated greater improvement and larger effect sizes for both outcomes.
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