The Effectiveness of Exercise on Reducing the Angle of Kyphosis

Thoracic hyperkyphosis, an exaggerated curvature between the first thoracic vertebra body (T1) and the 12th thoracic vertebra body (T12), has a high prevalence among older adults. The cross-sectional study conducted by the Principal Investigator found 72% of older adults in the Chinese community have thoracic hyperkyphosis. Thoracic kyphosis has been found having negative effects on self-image, physical function, respiratory function, pain, balance, and gait performance. Treatment options of thoracic hyperkyphosis included surgery, peptides injection, menopausal hormone therapy, bracing, traditional Chinese medicine therapies, and exercise. The previous studies reported that different types of exercise such as strength training, pilates, yoga, and corrective exercise were effective in reducing the thoracic hyperkyphosis. However, the previous studies either excluded older adults who have exercise habits or lack of information about participants' daily activity levels. Besides, all the group spine exercise interventions in previous studies were delivered by professional trainers or physical therapists in the form of face-to-face exercise classes. The current RCT will be conducted to provide kyphosis-specific exercise in the form of short video and face to face exercise classes as the intervention to Chinese older adults with thoracic hyperkyphosis. The RCT can test the effects of such kyphosis-specific exercise intervention on the angle of kyphosis, physical performance, pain, and self-image among Chinese older adults with thoracic hyperkyphosis. The investigator hypotheses that older adults receive kyphosis-specific exercise intervention (video and exercise class) have reduced the angle of kyphosis. And older adults receive kyphosis-specific exercise intervention (video and exercise class) have decreased pain, better self-image, and improved overall physical performance.