Improved shoulder flexion in older females following an 8-week daily exercise program on a 36-inch foam roller

Purpose

Older females with thoracic hyperkyphosis (HPK) are at risk of limited shoulder range of motion (ROM). The purpose of this eight-week study was to determine whether a daily 20-min training protocol with a 36-inch foam roller would improve shoulder flexion ROM in older females with mild HPK.

Methods

Eleven females (average age: 63.5 ± 8.1 years) completed the study. During the initial screening, a PAR-Q+, a physical activity rating scale, height, weight, and shoulder flexion measurements were collected. Participants were provided with a 20-min YouTube tutorial video to guide them through the daily exercises, which progressed in intensity throughout the eight weeks. At the end of the eight weeks, height, weight, and shoulder flexion measures were reassessed.

Results

The average compliance to daily practice of the program was 85.5 %. Shoulder flexion ROM significantly improved after the intervention (148.54 ± 6.4° vs. 155.06 ± 4.9°, p = 0.002) with a large effect size (d = 1.31, 95 % CI [2.96, 10.07]). There were no statistically significant changes in height or weight (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

A 20-min exercise protocol on a foam roller can improve shoulder flexion ROM in older females with HPK suggesting that spinal alignment may have been improved following the intervention. Future research should evaluate the influence of a daily 20-min foam roller intervention on measured kyphotic curvature.