Effect of sensor monitored upright sitting as intervention on core muscle thickness and contractibility spinal posture in asymptomatic university students A Randomized controlled trial

Students spend majority of their time sitting in classrooms, especially healthcare students due to prolonged sitting hours for extended teaching classes and for study purpose are prone for bad posture, muscle imbalance and low back pain. Increasing literature supports extended period of bad posture, such as slouching, are linked to the development of non-specific lower back pain (LBP). Prevalence of back (including lower back and thoracic) pain was 76% across India and people spent nearly 62,880 INR on medical consultation. Low back pain often is a result of muscle imbalance of back and core muscle.. There are many prevalence studies towards low back pain in healthcare students, but dearth in prevention studies to address the posture and muscle imbalance.

As per literature many exercise therapies like core stability exercise, resistance training have been tried for core muscle strengthening and they have shown good improvement, but there are many barriers attached with home based exercise programs given for a patients with back pain. It is also noted that home based exercises are effective only when are monitored by an expert. Research recognized many treatment for low back pain, once it has started however it would seem logical to prevent the condition. There are many lumbar support chairs available in market to help maintain the correct posture encouraging more neutral low back posture while sitting but reduces muscle activity.

The tonic activation of the core muscles that maintain the spine increases when seated upright in a chair, as well has positive effect on pulmonary function and overall wellbeing of the person. Though there are many articles supporting the upright sitting posture for abdominal muscle activation but there is dearth of literature of upright sitting as a intervention monitored by sensors on abdominal muscle strength. Sensors can give a valid data for the duration of a person sitting upright which can help to quantify the effect of upright sitting on core muscles

This intervention if proven significant for improving muscle strength would be one of the cost-effective method, which can be administered and practiced by all age groups. Hence the current study is undertaken to check the effectiveness of sensor monitored upright sitting on abdominal muscle strength alone and in combination with conventional exercises on core muscle strength.