Verification of Posture Correction Performance and Wearability of a Rounded Shoulder Brace for Women Developed Using 3D Ergonomic Patterns

This study aimed to verify the correction performance and wearability of a rounded shoulder posture (RSP) corrective brace for women. Developed previously using ergonomic patterns based on 3D body models of females in their early 20s, the brace was worn by six subjects with actual RSP over four weeks (12 sessions), with each 50-minute session involving stretching and activities of daily living while wearing it. RSP was measured pre- and post-intervention, and data were analyzed via paired t-tests and RM-ANOVA (SPSS 30.0), with subjective wearability assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Following an initial adaptation period of three to four sessions, the corrective effect reached a stable plateau through to the 12th, with the results demonstrating a statistically significant post-wear reduction in RSP across all sessions ( p < .05). By the final session, the average RSP change rate had increased by 13.0%, confirming a cumulative corrective effect. Regarding wearability, the brace scored highly (above 4.0/5.0) in clothing pressure, ease of movement, donning/doffing convenience, comfort, and fatigue. Notably, previously reported discomfort in the axillary and scapula regions was effectively resolved, with arm and shoulder mobility achieving a perfect score (5.0/5.0). In conclusion, the studied 3D ergonomic shoulder brace effectively corrected RSP while ensuring user comfort and mobility, suggesting that incorporating 3D anthropometric data into design processes can significantly enhance the functional performance of musculoskeletal support devices.