The Effectiveness of Critical Alignment Therapy (CAT)-Based Intervention on Posture, Musculoskeletal Pain Reduction and Quality of Life

Tai, Mei Chiew (2025) The Effectiveness of Critical Alignment Therapy (CAT)-Based Intervention on Posture, Musculoskeletal Pain Reduction and Quality of Life. Masters thesis, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

The present study investigated the effectiveness of a 12-week Critical Alignment Therapy (CAT) based intervention, the Body CATalist Programme (BCP), in improving posture, reducing musculoskeletal pain (MSP), and enhancing quality of life (QOL) among individuals experiencing MSP. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-test measurements. Participants were assigned to either an intervention group (n=36) receiving the BCP or a control group (n=29). Outcome measures included posture analysis using the Apecs-AI Posture Evaluation and Correction System®, pain assessment using the Body Part Discomfort Assessment Checklist (BPDAC), and QOL evaluation using the SF-36 Health Survey. The BCP intervention led to statistically significant improvements in posture, as evidenced by increased height and reduced upper back kyphosis. Additionally, the intervention group showed significant reductions in MSP, decreasing from a mean of 25.9 (SD=15.9) at pre-test to 11.7 (SD=12.1) at post-test. Significant improvements in QOL scores were also observed in the intervention group, particularly in physical functioning, pain-related limitations, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, pain perception, and general health. No significant age-related differences in outcomes were found. The BCP's impact on knee and ankle pain specifically did not reach statistical significance. The findings suggest that the BCP intervention holds promise as a non-pharmaceutical approach for managing MSP and improving QOL. Future research should explore the intervention's long-term effects and potential benefits for specific pain locations.