Comparative Effects and Sustainability of Eight Weeks of Corrective Exercises, Postural Reeducation, and Combined Program on Lumbar Hyperlordosis in Young Females

The aim of the present study was to compare the effect and sustainability of eight weeks of corrective exercises, postural reeducation, and their combination on lumbar hyperlordosis in young females.

A semi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, and two months follow up design was carried out. Participants included 55 female students, aged 18 to 25 years old, with increased lumbar lordosis, having an angle equal to or greater than 54 degrees. Then, they were randomly divided into four groups (corrective exercise, postural reeducation, combination of exercise and postural reeducation, and control). Exercise and combined groups participated in three training sessions for eight weeks, and postural reeducation and combined groups received education sessions twice a week for eight weeks, while the control group received ordinary daily living activities. The degree of lordosis was measured using a flexible ruler before and after eight weeks of intervention, and then after two months of follow-up. All statistical tests were performed at the significant level of P

The results of repeated measure of ANOVA indicated a significant difference between pre test and post-test in the three groups of exercise, reeducation, and their combination in reducing lordosis. The post hoc test results showed that posttest and follow up of exercise groups, postural reeducation, and combination program, compared with the control group, had a significant difference in lordosis compared with pre-test, a sign of improvement of the complications. The sustainability effect of exercise, postural reeducation, and combined program showed that all three types of programs had similar effects on the lumbar hyperlordosis and had no significant differences.

According to the results, it can be argued that the use of corrective exercises, combined, and postural reeducation program are likely to be effective in improving hyperlordosis, but the effect of the corrective exercise program was more than those of the other interventions and it is suggested that those with this disorder can use any of these corrective protocols to improve this complication.