Prevalence of Upper Cross Syndrome among Students of University of Balochistan, Quetta Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of upper crossed syndrome among students of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Bachelors of Eastern Medicine and Surgery (BEMS) at university of Balochistan Quetta, Pakistan. Background: Upper cross syndrome is characterized as a pattern of tightness or over facilitation of chronically contracted and shortened muscles on one side and weakness or inhibition of chronically lengthened muscles on other side due to the muscle imbalance leading to postural abnormalities including, forward head posture, shoulder protraction, winging of scapula. These changes, in turn, lead to overstress of the cervical cranio-cervical junction, cervical and thoracic spine and shoulders, which can cause neck and/or jaw pain, headaches, and shoulder problems. The purpose of this study was to figure out the number of students of DPT and BEMS suffering from upper crossed syndrome at university of Balochistan Quetta, Pakistan. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. A self-constructed questionnaire having two parts, the first part comprised of demographics data while second part comprised of 18 questions and consent form was filled by 340 students both males and females from DPT and BEMS department. The Data was analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Results: The study participants had a mean age of ±21.85, most of them were, from 22-25 years n=182 (53.5%) age group, males n=178 (52.4%) and from 3rd semester n=107 (31.5%). The prevalence of upper cross syndrome in the current study was 45.0%. Conclusion: The study concludes that upper cross syndrome has high prevalence in the students of DPT and BEMS in faculty of pharmacy and health sciences, at university of Balochistan Quetta, Pakistan.