Effects of Scapular Posterior Tilt Exercises and Cross-Body Stretching in Postpartum Women With Rounded Shoulders

NCT07576296 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: REC/RCR & AHS/25/0510
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 34
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to compare the effects of scapular posterior tilt exercises and cross-body stretching on breastfeeding efficiency, latch quality, and posture in postpartum women with rounded shoulders.

Conditions

Postpartum Complication

Keywords

Female; Shoulder; Breastfeeding; Scapula; Posture; Postpartum period

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• BREASTFEEDING SELF EFFICACY SCALE:

  The BSES-SF was a 14-item self-administered instrument derived from the original 33-item BSES that measured breastfeeding confidence. All items were preceded by the phrase "I can always" and were rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (not at all confident) to 5 (always confident). Total scores ranged from 14 to 70, with higher scores reflecting more significant levels of breastfeeding self-efficacy.

  6th week

• Bristol Breastfeeding Assessment Tool:

  Jenny Ingram developed this tool in 2022; Cronbach's alpha value was found to be 0.77. The scale is a Likert-type scale comprising the 4 items of "positioning," "holding," "sucking" and "swallowing." Each item is scored between 0- 2 points. The lowest possible score on the scale is 0, the highest is 8. Lower scores indicate that the breastfeeding is not successful, the higher scores signify successful breastfeedin

  6th week

• APESC:

  The APECS mobile app uses photo-based posture analysis and scores alignment across body segments using virtual markers. It has excellent reliability, with inter-rater ICCs above 0.90 for most measures and strong intra-rater consistency. Its validity is supported by its ability to detect postural differences between groups

  6th week

Study Arms (2)

Scapular Posterior Tilt exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

To improve scapular posterior tilt, focus on exercises that strengthen the lower trapezius and serratus anterior, which are crucial for shoulder stability and function

Other: Scapular Posterior Tilt exercises

Cross-Body Stretching

EXPERIMENTAL

The cross-body stretch is an effective exercise for improving shoulder flexibility and relieving tension in the shoulder muscles

Other: Cross-Body Stretching

Interventions

Scapular Posterior Tilt exercises OTHER

* 3 sessions per week * Duration: 20-30 minutes per session * Total duration: 6 weeks

Scapular Posterior Tilt exercises

Cross-Body Stretching OTHER

3 sessions per week, Duration: 20-30 minutes per session. for 6 weeks

Cross-Body Stretching

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 35 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Postpartum Women with Rounded Shoulders
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Mutiparous females.
• previous cesarean section deliveries
• Postpartum women between 2 weeks and 6 months postpartum.
• Experiencing shoulder discomfort or poor posture

You may not qualify if:

• History of recent trauma or surgery such a Arthroscopy for Impingement Syndrome, Shoulder Replacement that affecting the shoulder complex.
• Mother with history of breast cancer and hepatitis
• History of shoulder surgery, trauma, or musculoskeletal disorders affecting the upper back/shoulder (Trapezius muscles train, Levator scapulae and rhomboid overuse)
• Severe postnatal complications (e.g., mastitis, postpartum depression, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Riphah International University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Sheikh Zaid Hospital

Lahore, Punjab Province, 6400, Pakistan

RECRUITING

Related Publications (5)

• Algabbani MF, Alazmi AA, Alqabbani S, Almurdi MM, Abdelkader SM, Alruwaili M, et al. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Neck and Upper Limb Musculoskeletal Disabilities Among Postpartum Women. Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2025;52(2):25833.

  BACKGROUND

• Faisal S, Nadeem A, Waqas S. Association between Infant Carrying Methods, Duration, and Trunk Position Among Nursing Mothers of Lahore. Journal Riphah College of Rehabilitation Sciences. 2024;12(04).

  BACKGROUND

• Escribano S, Herrero-Oliver R, Oliver-Roig A, Richart-Martínez M. Psychometric properties of the maternal breastfeeding evaluation scale: a confirmatory factor analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2024;24(1):486.

  BACKGROUND

• Gu Q, Pan L, Yu L, Jiang Q. Effect of scapular posterior tilting exercise on scapular muscle activities in men and women with a rounded shoulder posture. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 2024;19(1):383.

  BACKGROUND

• Stubbs PW, Mehta P, Trøstrup J, Tamminga SJ, Stynes SM, Koes BW, et al. Exercise interventions for treating work-related complaints of the arm, neck or shoulder in adults. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2025;2025(4):CD014643.

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Breast Feeding

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Feeding Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• hina gul, PhD*

  Riphah International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

imran amjad

CONTACT

03324390125; imran.amjad@riphah.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 4, 2026
• First Posted: May 8, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: May 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PA (1)