Posture correction exercises and posture measurement in adolescents

Abstract

We read with interest a recently published article titled “The effects of training and detraining after an 8 month resistance and stretching training program on forward head and protracted shoulder postures in adolescents: Randomized controlled study” (Ruivo et al., 2015). The authors highlighted the significant effects of training and detraining following an exercise program in relation to changes in upper quadrant posture. We like to share few scientific facts and request the opinion of the authors on few methods related to the scope of this interesting study. Accuracy of head postural angle measurement highly depends on the alignment of the axis of the camera lens in relation to seventh cervical spine (C 7 )( Diab and Moustafa 2012). Improper alignment of the camera lens to the anatomical point C7 may leads to parallax error which may causes inaccuracy of the head postural angle measurement (Diab and Moustafa 2012). In current study the camera lens and the height of the tripod was standardized at 130 cm above the ground. As study participants may have different heights, it is not clear how the forward head and protracted shoulder postural angle could be measured reliably and accurately. As such, we request the author's opinion on possible parallax error in forward head and protracted shoulder postural angle measurement and how we can control such errors in practice. In addition, may we request the opinion of the authors on different factors that may influence the reliability of the forward head and protracted shoulder postural angle measurement using the photographic method. We believe that the response of the authors may help clinicians to use the procedure in routine clinical