PROMOTING STUDENT WELL-BEING THROUGH A STRUCTURED POSTURAL EXERCISE PROGRAM AMONG CHINESE COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH UPPER CROSS SYNDROME

Abstract

Student well-being has become an important concern in higher education due to increasing sedentary learning behaviors and prolonged use of digital technologies. Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS) is a common postural condition among university students that may negatively affect physical well-being and participation in academic activities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of shoulder and back rehabilitation exercises on UCS among Chinese college students. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 104 participants who were randomly assigned to either a structured postural exercise program (n = 52) or a conventional physical therapy group (n = 52). Primary outcomes were postural alignment measures, including Cranial Vertebral Angle (CVA) and Forward Shoulder Angle (FSA), while secondary outcomes included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI). After six weeks, both groups demonstrated significant improvements in postural alignment, pain intensity, and neck-related disability (p < 0.05). However, the intervention group achieved significantly greater improvements in CVA (p = 0.032) and FSA (p = 0.001) than the control group. No significant between-group differences were observed for NDI (p = 0.456) or VAS (p = 0.294). These findings suggest that structured postural exercise programs may serve as effective health-promotion strategies for improving student well-being and supporting healthy learning environments in higher education institutions.