Control group

School-based exercise program

The exercise program was applied, twice a week, for 8 weeks, with sessions of 50 minutes, in groups of 10 students. The exercise program was elaborate to restore muscular balance through flexibility, endurance and muscular strength. To promote flexibility stretching exercises for rotator neck muscles, lateral neck flexors, levator scapulae, upper trapezius, erector spinae, major and minor pectoralis, rhomboids, spinal lateral flexors, column rotators, piriformis, hamstrings, quadriceps, hip adductors and abductors were applied. Strengthening exercises were applied for the development of strength, endurance and control of deep flexor muscles of the cervical spine, stabilizers of the glenohumeral joint and scapula, abdominals, spine extensors and hip extensors.

Qualitative postural assessment was performed by a physiotherapist through the photographic records. The photos were recorded with the students in swimsuits and no shoes. The subject was positioned over the gyratory platform to avoid reposition for the photographic record, besides the plumb line, with the feet lined and separated by hip width. The records were performed in the frontal and sagittal planes, in the anterior, posterior and lateral view. According to the positioning of the structures in relation to the plumb line, the presence of postural changes was classified by the physiotherapist. Lateral tilt and forward head, shoulder protrusion, cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, and lumbar lordosis were evaluated.

Postural Assessment Software (PAS/SAPo) was used to quantitatively assess posture. Reflective markers were placed by a trained physiotherapist on the anatomical landmarks of the subject. The subject was positioned over the gyratory platform, and photographic records were performed in the frontal and sagittal planes, in the anterior, posterior and lateral view.

The analysis followed the guidelines of PAS/SAPo. The photos were aligned and calibrated. The reflective markers were identified and the protocol of measures of the PAS/SAPo was used, providing the following parameters: horizontal alignment of the acromions, horizontal alignment of the ASIS, angle between acromions and ASIS, vertical alignment of the trunk, horizontal alignment of the pelvis, horizontal alignment of the head, vertical alignment of the head.