Comparison of the Immediate Effects of Low-Load Prolong Stretching and Gross Passive Stretching on Pectoralis Minor Muscle Tightness in Office Workers
Keywords:
Low-load prolonged stretching, Gross passive stretching, Pectoralis minor tightnessAbstract
Shoulder pain is prevalent among office workers and is commonly associated with prolonged sitting and poor posture. Sustained postural deviation may alter scapular alignment and increase pectoralis minor tightness, contributing to pain and restricted shoulder mobility. Stretching interventions are frequently used to reduce muscle tightness and improve function. This study aimed to compare the immediate effects of low-load prolonged stretching and gross passive stretching in office workers with pectoralis minor tightness. Thirty participants aged 20-50 years who reported sitting for at least 4 hours daily were recruited. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups. Outcome measures included pectoralis minor length, which was used to calculate the Pectoralis Minor Index (PMI), shoulder external rotation range of motion (ROM), and acromion distance (AD). All variables were measured before and immediately after the intervention. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. The results showed that both stretching techniques significantly increased pectoralis minor muscle index (PMI) and shoulder external rotation, while significantly reducing the acromion distance (AD) immediately after treatment (p < .05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups. In conclusion, both low-load prolonged stretching and gross passive stretching are effective in improving muscle flexibility and shoulder external rotation range of motion in office workers with pectoralis minor tightness. The observed improvements may also be partially attributed to the concurrent stretching effect on the pectoralis major muscle.
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