Rigid Taping's Effects on Posture and Balance in Office Workers

Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18-45
SponsorPamukkale University

About this trial

This study looks at whether applying a rigid tape to the upper back can immediately improve posture and balance in people who spend long hours sitting at a desk. Thirty office workers will have their head and neck position, spinal posture, and standing balance measured, then the tape will be applied to gently support the upper back and shoulders in a more upright position. The same measurements will be repeated 15 minutes later, while the tape is still in place. The tape is a flexible, skin-safe material commonly used in sports and physical therapy; it contains no medication and is not expected to cause discomfort or side effects. By comparing the measurements taken before and after taping, the researchers hope to learn whether this simple, non-invasive technique can produce an immediate improvement in head and spinal alignment and in balance control. This study looks only at short-term (acute) effects and does not test whether the benefits, if any, last beyond the taping session. The results may help patients and health care providers understand whether taping could serve as a quick, low-risk tool to support better posture during long periods of desk work.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

be an individual who works at least 6 hours a day at a desk

not having had any musculoskeletal disorders or orthopedic surgery in the last 6 months

not use any postural support

Disqualifiers

having been diagnosed with chronic pain or postural deformity in the lower back, upper back, or neck region

having structural spinal disorders such as scoliosis, kyphosis, or lordosis

having undergone physical therapy or manual therapy within the last 3 months

having previously undergone rigid taping

Trial design

Design model

Single group

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Rigid taping

    Other intervention

    igid thoracic postural correction taping applied bilaterally by a trained examiner, starting from the anterior surface of the humerus and extending to the level of T12, to passively encourage scapular retraction, thoracic extension, and reduced forward head positioning

Treatment groups

30 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group
Group A: Rigid tapingExperimental treatment 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Change in Craniovertebral (Tragus) Angle

Craniovertebral alignment will be assessed using the tragus angle, a validated proxy for forward head posture. An increase in the tragus angle indicates a more neutral (less forward) head position.

Time frame
Baseline and 15 minutes after tape application
2

Change in Sagittal Spinal Alignment

Spinal alignment will be assessed non-invasively using the SpinalMouse device in neutral standing, maximal flexion, and maximal extension postures, yielding segmental angles (sacral/hip, thoracic, lumbar, and inclination).

Time frame
Baseline and 15 minutes after tape application

Secondary outcomes

1

Change in Static and Dynamic Postural Balance

Postural balance will be assessed using a force platform (ForcePlates) system, with center-of-pressure (COP) parameters including sway area, mean velocity, and displacement in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions.

Time frame
Baseline and 15 minutes after tape application

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

Pamukkale University

Lead sponsor

University of Gaziantep

Sponsor institution

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