title: The effect of scapular posterior tilt exercise, pectoralis minor stretching, and shoulder brace on scapular alignment and muscles activity in subjects with round-shoulder posture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are various methods for rehabilitating round-shoulder posture (RSP), including strengthening exercises, stretching, and using a shoulder brace or taping to correct the altered posture. However, no study has determined which intervention is the most effective of the three methods to decrease RSP (intervention #1: scapular posterior tilting exercise alone [hereafter, SPT], intervention #2: the scapular posterior tilting exercise after PM stretching [PM stretch+SPT], and intervention #3: the scapular posterior tilting exercise with use of a shoulder brace [SPT+brace]).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the SPT, PM stretch+SPT, and SPT+brace on RSP, PM index (PMI), and lower trapezius (LT) and serratus anterior (SA) activity in subjects with RSP.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, fifteen young men with RSP, participated in the study (21.46 ± 2.30 years old). RSP was confirmed using a caliper measure. Surface electromyography (SEMG) data for LT and SA activity were collected during the three interventions, and the SEMG data are expressed as a percentage of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  RSP was significantly less in the PM stretch+SPT and SPT+brace than in the SPT (P<0.05). PMI was significantly greater in the PM stretch+SPT and SPT+brace than in the SPT (P<0.05). LT activity was significantly greater in the PM stretch+SPT than in the SPT or SPT+brace in subjects with RSP (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PM stretching exercise and application of a shoulder brace may help correct RSP and restore the length of the PM. The posterior tilting exercise after PM stretching was the most effective method for eliciting greater LT muscle activation among the interventions tested.
authors.affiliation: Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jihyun.lee@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ji-hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cynn@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Heon-seock
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cynn
authors.affiliation: Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea; Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Woosong University, #17-2, Jayang-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: free0829@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tae-lim
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gchpsh@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Chang-hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cwj7354@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Woo-jeong
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Applied Kinesiology and Ergonomic Technology Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Yonsei University, Baekwoon-kwan, 1 Yonseidae-gil, Wonju, Kangwon-do, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: silah88@naver.com.
authors.forename: Sil-ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health and Welfare, Woosong University, #17-2, Jayang-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: bchoi@wsu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Bong-sam
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D001915:Braces; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D012540:Scapula / Q000502:physiology*; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Pectoralis minor stretching; Round-shoulder posture; Scapular posterior tilting exercise; Shoulder brace