The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of an 8 week proprioceptive exercise program on body composition, spinal alignment, pelvic displacement, scapular position, and balance among female industrial workers. Thirty female employees from ...
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of an 8 week proprioceptive exercise program on body composition, spinal alignment, pelvic displacement, scapular position, and balance among female industrial workers. Thirty female employees from the S Electronics complex in Chungcheongnam-do were randomly assigned to an exercise group(EG, n=15) and a control group(CG, n=15). The EG participated in proprioceptive training focused on unstable surfaces using BOSU balls, Swiss balls, and balance pads for 60 minutes per session, twice a week, for eight weeks. The dependent variables of this study were body composition, spinal alignment, pelvic displacement, scapular position, and balance as measured by the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS). Data analysis included calculations of means and standard deviations, independent t-tests for group comparisons, and two-way repeated measures ANOVA, with a significance level set at α=.05. The results showed that muscle mass, BMI, and WHR demonstrated significant improvements following the exercise intervention, while body fat exhibited significant differences between groups. However, musculoskeletal alignment variables—spinal alignment (Thoracic angle, Lodotic angle, Lumbar angle, Trunk imbalance, Trunk inclination), pelvic displacement (position, torsion, rotation), and scapular position (Position of scapulae, AIS distance, Rotation of scapulae, Position of scapulae Right/ Left)—did not show significant changes. In contrast, significant improvements were observed in several BESS balance variables, including double-leg stance and single-leg stance on the floor, as well as tandem stance in group and interaction effects. Additionally, single-leg and tandem stances on the pad showed significant improvements, and double-leg stance on the pad exhibited significant group and interaction effects. The overall composite BESS score also improved significantly after the intervention. In conclusion, the 8 week proprioceptive exercise program effectively improved most body composition indicators and balance-related variables among female industrial workers, although it showed limited effects on musculoskeletal alignment within the short-term intervention period. Future research should aim to develop systematic and efficient exercise programs that consider workers’ occupational environments, age, gender, and health conditions to better prevent and improve musculoskeletal disorders.