Many American adults in today's society spend extended periods of time hunched over a computer or phone. This hunched position weakens the upper posterior muscles that support the shoulder and neck prompting muscle imbalance. Specifically, the lower trapezius and clavicle flexor muscles become too weak while the pectoral and upper trapezius muscles become too tight leading to the condition known as postural kyphosis or, more commonly, rounded shoulders. Our project aimed to design, build, and test a device able to treat and correct postural kyphosis through sensorimotor training. While the effectiveness of this device was determined through a short-term biomechanical validation processes, we recommend further testing to gather the long-term effects of use.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Herchenroder, Kirsten M
• Perez Luna, Manuela
• Mastropoll, Connor A
• Betancur, Silvio Torres

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042518-164305

Advisor

• Fichera, Loris
• Fischer, Gregory S.
• Butler, Tiffiny A

Year

• 2018

Date created

• 2018-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Última modificação

• 2023-09-08