Effects of the Muscle Energy Technique and the Self-Stretching Exercise of the Pectoralis Minor on the Pulmonary Function of Young Adults with Thoracic Kyphosis

Effects of the Muscle Energy Technique and the Self-Stretching Exercise of the Pectoralis Minor on the Pulmonary Function of Young Adults with Thoracic Kyphosis

Background: Thoracic kyphosis leads to the narrowing of the rib cage, compression of the lungs, and reduced mobility, resulting in decreased expansion of the lungs. Purpose: This study investigates the effects of the muscle energy technique and the self-stretching exercise of the pectoralis minor muscle on the pulmonary function of young subjects with kyphosis. Study design: Design Pre-test post-test control group design. Methods: Thoracic kyphosis was determined by adding the angle of the seventh cervical vertebra and the first thoracic vertebra and the angle of the twelfth thoracic vertebra and the first lumbar vertebra. Excessive kyphosis was defined as a curvature measuring more than 40°. For the respiratory function, forced vital capacity (FVC), one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and peak expiratory flow rate were measured using a Pony FX. Then, six sets of the muscle energy technique and the self-stretching exercise were performed, with three sets each for the left and right sides of the body. Each set consisted of 10 repetitions of a 10 s exercise, and 30 s breaks were given between sets. Results: Results showed that the self-stretching exercise reduced the thoracic kyphosis and significantly increased the FVC and FEV1. The muscle energy technique reduced the kyphosis and significantly increased the FVC. Conclusions: The two intervention methods, the muscle energy technique and the self-stretching exercise, can be applied as effective treatment programs to improve the pulmonary function of subjects with thoracic kyphosis.