PREVALENCE OF UPPER CROSS SYNDROME DUE TO PROLONGED SITTING AMONG FEMALE MADRASSA STUDENTS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/051cg656Keywords:
Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS), Pectoralis Major Tightness Test (PMTT), Wall Push-Up Test (WPT), Craniovertebral Angle (CVA), REEDCO Posture Assessment Scale, Spearman Correlation Coefficient (Rs).Abstract
Background: Upper Cross Syndrome is a common postural imbalance characterized by forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and altered cervical and scapular alignment. Students who remain seated for prolonged periods, especially in non-ergonomic positions, may be at increased risk of developing postural deviations and related musculoskeletal problems.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) and its association with prolonged sitting among female madrassa students.
Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 314 female madrassa students aged 15–22 years in Sialkot, Pakistan. Participants were assessed using the REEDCO Posture Assessment Scale, Craniovertebral Angle (CVA) measurement, Pectoralis Major Tightness Test (PMTT), and Wall Push-Up Test (WPT). Data were analysed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics were used to determine prevalence, while Spearman correlation and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to evaluate associations between variables.
Results: The prevalence of UCS was 15.9% (n=50). The mean REEDCO score was 5.72 ± 1.98, indicating generally normal posture among participants. The mean CVA score was 1.15 ± 0.44. Pectoralis major tightness was observed in 10.8% of participants, while scapular dyskinesis was present in 8.6%. No statistically significant association was found between prolonged sitting duration and UCS (p > 0.05). However, a strong positive correlation was observed between CVA and REEDCO scores (Rs = 0.846, p < 0.001), suggesting that forward head posture contributes substantially to postural deviations associated with UCS.
Conclusion: The prevalence of UCS among female madrassa students was relatively low but clinically significant. Although prolonged sitting duration was not significantly associated with UCS, postural deviations, particularly forward head posture, showed a strong relationship with the syndrome. Early screening and posture correction programs may help prevent future musculoskeletal complications in this population.
Keywords: Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS), Pectoralis Major Tightness Test (PMTT), Wall Push-Up Test (WPT), Craniovertebral Angle (CVA), REEDCO Posture Assessment Scale, Spearman Correlation Coefficient (Rs).
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Husna, Dr. Sadaf Waris, Hadia Jabbar, Areej Jahanzaib, Mubeen Shabbir, Alishba Tanveerq, Dr. Raveena Rajpoot (Author)
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