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 volunteersQualifiers
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
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
Rigid taping
Other interventionigid 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
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
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.
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).
Secondary outcomes
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.
Sponsors and contacts
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Pamukkale University
Lead sponsor
University of Gaziantep
Sponsor institution
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