Prevalence of Thoracic Hyperkyphosis Posture among Female Students of Allied Health Institutes and Its Association With Rounded Shoulders

Background: Thoracic hyper kyphosis and rounded shoulders are common postural abnormalities among young females, which can lead to musculoskeletal impairments and reduced quality of life. Prolonged sitting and poor posture are key contributing factors to these conditions.Objective: To determine the prevalence of thoracic hyper kyphosis among female students at allied health institutes and its association with rounded shoulders.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 334 female students aged 18 to 25 years from three allied health institutes in Faisalabad. Thoracic hyper kyphosis was measured using a flexi curve ruler from C7 to T12, and rounded shoulders were assessed with a Vernier caliper measuring the acromion-to-bed distance. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, including descriptive statistics and logistic regression to assess associations.Results: The prevalence of thoracic hyper kyphosis was 19.5%, and rounded shoulders were observed in 21.6% of participants. A significant association was found between thoracic hyper kyphosis and rounded shoulders (p = 0.005). Each additional hour of sitting increased the odds of hyper kyphosis by 43% (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.12 - 1.82) and rounded shoulders by 51% (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.18 - 1.93).Conclusion: The study identified a significant prevalence of thoracic hyper kyphosis and rounded shoulders among female students, linked to prolonged sitting. Preventive measures focusing on postural correction and reducing sitting time are recommended.