Effect of Home-based Exercise Program on Postural Kyphosis in Adolescent Population: An Interventional Study

Introduction: With the increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal issues like thoracic kyphosis, caused by inappropriate modern lifestyle habits, the aim of this study is to assess whether exercise can improve postural alignment and maintain these improvements over time. Aim: This study investigates the effects of a Home Exercise Program (HEP) on the Thoracic Kyphosis Angle (TKA) in adolescents aged 10 to 18 years. Materials and Methods: This is an interventional study observing the effect of a four-week home exercise program on postural kyphosis in adolescents, conducted at KM Patel Institute of Physiotherapy in Karamsad, Gujarat, India. The study duration was from January 2024 to March 2025, during which a total of 84 participants were screened. Out of these, 44 were recruited into a single group according to the inclusion criteria, with a TKA (θ)>40°, from various local schools in the Anand district. Participants were preassessed (TKA (θ)-A) and then given a four-week HEP. Postintervention, participants were reassessed (TKA (θ)-B), and after four weeks of cessation of the intervention, a final assessment (TKA (θ)-C) was conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using paired t-tests (p-value <0.05) in Statistics and Data (STATA) version 14.2. Results: The study found that thoracic kyphosis is slightly more prevalent in males (52%) than in females (48%). There were statistically significant improvements (p<0.05) in TKA, indicating the effectiveness of the exercise program. After the cessation of exercise for another four weeks, no significant difference was found in TKA (p>0.05), which shows the retention effect of exercise after four weeks of inactivity. Conclusion: The study concluded that the given home-based exercise program is effective in improving thoracic kyphosis and maintaining postural alignment over time, even four weeks after discontinuation. However, intermittent exercise can still be beneficial to prevent further postural deviations.