The Effect of Eight Weeks of Iyengar Yoga With an Emphasis on Spine and Shoulder Exercises on the Upper Cross Syndrome in Middle-aged Women

Upper Crossed Syndrome (UCS) is a combination of forward head, rounded shoulder, and hyperkyphosis deformities. Yoga is a non-competitive physical exercise with the potential to correct postural imbalances in the human body. Iyengar yoga is a form of Hatha yoga.

The purpose of present study was to evaluate the effect of Iyengar yoga with an emphasis on spine and shoulder exercises on the UCS in middle-aged women. In this quasi-experimental applied research, 15 subjects were purposefully recruited out of middle-aged women affected with UCS. The participants performed Iyengar yoga exercises with an emphasis on the spine and shoulder. The photogrammetry method was used to measure UCS.

At the end of 8 weeks exercises, there was a significant increase in the cervical (P<0.001) and shoulder angles (P<0.005), and a significant decrease in thoracic flexion angle (P<0.001).

All relevant coaches and therapists are recommended considering Iyengar yoga as an alternative for training programs in middle-aged women affected by UCS.