Under the combined influence of intensive academic pressure and prolonged forward-leaning study posture, medical students are highly susceptible to postural problems such as shoulder asymmetry. These issues tend to occur early, are easily overlooked, and can negatively affect cervical-shoulder function, body alignment, and the physical capacity required for future clinical work. Mat-based Pilates, which emphasizes core stability, deep muscle activation, and symmetry control, has been recognized as an effective approach for improving muscular imbalances around the shoulder girdle and spine. This study recruited medical students with shoulder asymmetry and adopted a pre-test–intervention–post-test design to implement an eight-week mat-based Pilates program. Systematic assessments were conducted on acromion height difference, scapular symmetry, cranio-shoulder angle, core stability scores, and the flexibility of related muscle groups. The results show that mat-based Pilates can reduce shoulder height discrepancies, enhance scapular control and core stability, and promote improvements in postural symmetry and muscular coordination. These findings highlight the practical value of Pilates as an intervention for posture correction. This study provides a safe, low-risk, and sustainable exercise-based approach for improving shoulder asymmetry in medical students, offers a feasible model for posture-health education and targeted physical training in universities, and suggests that future research may incorporate three-dimensional posture scanning and electromyographic analysis to further explore the underlying mechanisms.

Anjun Zhang. Intervention Study on Mat-Based Pilates for Posture Correction in Medical Students: A Case of Shoulder Asymmetry. Frontiers in Sport Research (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 5: 37-44. https://doi.org/10.25236/FSR.2025.070506.

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