Introduction: Kyphosis deformity is one of the most common deformities of the upper quarter of the spine of students involved with it, and one of the most effective methods for its prevention and correction is self-correction exercises. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of self-correction exercises with and without focusing on the pelvis on muscle endurance and spinal alignment correction in students with kyphosis.
Methodology: The current research is semi-experimental, which was considered as pre-test and post-test in two experimental groups and one control group. The subjects of this research included 45 male students with kyphosis deformity with an age range between 15 and 18 years, who were selected as available and targeted samples from the schools of Karaj city. The subjects of the present study were randomly divided into three groups of exercise focusing on the pelvis (15 people) and exercise without focusing on the pelvis (15 people) and a control group (15 people). McGill trunk extensor endurance test and flexible ruler were used to evaluate muscle endurance and spine alignment, respectively. The program of self-correction exercises with and without focusing on the pelvis for 10 weeks, three sessions per week and each session lasting 40 minutes, which before the start of the exercises, in several briefing sessions of self-correction exercises selected by the trainer, corrective movements are taught to the subjects. Analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to investigate the interaction of group time, one-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni test were used to investigate inter-group changes, and paired t-test was used to investigate intra-group changes at a significance level of P≥0.05. SPSS version 19 statistical software was used to perform all calculations.
Results: A significant increase in the endurance of trunk extensor muscles and improvement of spine alignment in the two training groups was observed in the post-test (P<0.05). This was despite the fact that the control group was not significant in any of the inter-group and intra-group comparisons of the mentioned variables (P>0.05). The comparison of the effect of self-correction exercises with and without focusing on the pelvis showed a significant difference in the post-test between the two training groups, and the most significant increase and improvement in both variables was related to self-correction exercises with a focus on the pelvis (P<0.05).
Conclusion:The findings of this research showed that self-correction exercises with and without focusing on the pelvis can increase the endurance of trunk extensor muscles and improve the alignment of students with kyphosis. Since the self-correction exercises focusing on the pelvis, while strengthening the local muscles, also covered the global muscles and the chain reaction of the body, it has caused a more significant increase in the variables.