Background and Aim: Changes in the skeletal-muscular system in the elderly will have many consequences, such as the shortening of the anterior column of the spine. Considering the importance of this issue, the purpose of this study is to examine the effect of eight weeks of combined NASM and breathing exercises on the spine, respiratory capacity, and quality of life. The elderly with hyperkyphosis (a randomized clinical trial).
Methods: In this study, 30 elderly people (60-75 years old men and women) suffering from kyphosis from the welfare center of Mashhad city were selected as samples for this research and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group performed corrective exercises for eight weeks, three sessions per week, each lasting 60 minutes. The control group did not have any regular sports activities. The degree of kyphosis curvature, breathing capacity, and quality of life were measured before and after the intervention. Analysis of covariance and correlated t-tests were used to compare the two experimental and control groups before and after training.
Results: The results showed that the amount of kyphosis curvature has decreased significantly in the experimental group (P=0.000) (with a mean difference and standard deviation, of 5±3.04(; While these changes were not significant in the control group (P<0.05), the amount of physical and mental health, quality of life, and lung capacity in the experimental group increased significantly (P=0.000); While these changes were not significant in the control group. After estimating the average in the experimental groups, comparing the post-test average scores of the group and women and men showed a significant difference in the quality of life between the men and women groups (P=0.034).
Conclusion: Eight weeks of corrective breathing exercises can have a positive effect on improving the alignment of the spine, breathing capacity, and quality of life in the elderly, according to the results.