Research Paper: Comparing the Effect of 8-Week Corrective Exercises With Versus Without Myofascial Release on Correcting Forward Shoulder Deformity

Purpose: The present research aimed to compare the effect and follow-up of 8-week corrective exercises with and without the myofascial release on the correction of forward shoulder deformity in male students. Methods: A total of 45 male students suffering from abnormal forward shoulder deformity (more than 52-degree) with the Mean±SD age of 22.12±2.88 years, Mean±SD height of 175.44±6.80 cm and Mean±SD weight of 71.21±7.31 kg were selected and randomly assigned in three groups: corrective exercises, combinational exercises (corrective exercises and myofascial release), and control. The exercise groups did the study tasks for eight weeks under the direct observation of the researcher. Before starting the exercises, immediately after the end of the exercises (8 weeks later) and finally, 4 weeks after the completion of the exercises, the subjects’ angle of the forward shoulder was measured using a photography method. Then, the collected data were analyzed using the variance analysis tests with repeated measurements and ANCOVA. Results: The results showed that the degree of forward shoulder after eight weeks of exercises in both training groups in the posttest and follow-up test was significantly lower than that in the pretest. The ANCOVA test results also demonstrated that the forward shoulder degree in the corrective exercises group with the myofascial release was significantly lower than that in the corrective exercises group in the posttest and follow-up test (P≤0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, the corrective exercises program with the myofascial release is more effective than the corrective exercises alone in correcting the forward shoulder deformity.