The posture correction effect of functional clothing to prevent turtle neck syndrome

Abstract

This study was performed to measure the posture correction effect of wearing ergonomic experimental clothing. Two types of experimental clothing (A, B) were developed. Both of them reinforced the muscles surrounding the spine. Experimental clothing A was developed by reflecting the shape and position of the pectoralis major muscle, abdominal muscle, and latissimus dorsi muscle. Experiment clothing B was developed by reflecting the integrated form of those muscles. Subjects were males in their 20s~30s (n=32). They were divided into two groups based on their acromion distance (AD): the turtle neck syndrome group (n=16, AD=3.81cm) and the normal group (n=16, AD=1.27cm). The correction of body posture was detected by three index values: change of the cervical curvature angle, horizontal distance between the seventh cervical vertebra and tragion, and AD. The comfort and tightness of the clothing were also measured. The results showed that both types of experimental clothing corrected body posture and that turtle neck syndrome can be prevented by wearing these types of posture correcting clothing. Two index values were decreased: cervical curvature angle (0.31~1.32°) and horizontal distance between seventh cervical vertebra and tragion (0.22~0.31cm). The chest was also stretched. The comfort was rated as good for both types of experimental clothing. These results indicate that the experimental clothing had a posture correction effect without any discomfort for daily living.