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Introduction Incorrect positioning of the body in space increases the tension of the myofascial tissue and overloads the skeleton. It is important to look for factors that affect the deterioration of body posture that could be eliminated. Understanding the interrelationship between the positioning of individual body segments should be the key knowledge for those involved in the prevention and correction of faulty body posture. The study aimed to determine the relationship between the degree of physiological curvatures of the spine and the incidence of incorrect knee position. Materials and methods The study involved 685 children aged 10–12. Body height, weight and BMI were measured and calculated. The degree of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis was assessed using the Zebris Pointer ultrasound system. Valgus and varus knees were diagnosed in an upright position based on the intermalleolar distance with knees together, and intercondylar distance with the feet placed together. The statistical analysis uses descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test (comparison of girls and boys), the Kruskal-Wallis test, the Tukey's post hoc test (comparison of variables in participants with correct, varus and valgus knees) and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (the relationship between the position of the spine and knees). Results The examined girls were heavier than the boys and had higher BMI. Spine deformities and incorrect knee position are common among 10-12-year-old children. The girls and boys differed significantly in the spine shape in the sagittal plane and the intermalleolar distance. Round lumbar lordosis is more characteristic for girls, and for boys, round thoracic kyphosis. For both genders, valgus knees occur more often than varus knees and coexist with decreased thoracic kyphosis. The rounder the thoracic kyphosis, the greater distance between the knees and the smaller distance between ankles. Conclusions The frontal knee position significantly correlated with the depth of thoracic kyphosis.

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Introduction and aim of the study: The body posture, which is one of the determinants of health and functional efficiency, changes depending on gender, age and psychophysical condition. Defining a pattern of correct posture is extremely difficult as it is a highly individualised feature. The aim of this paper was to compare the body posture of women in three periods of ontogenesis: girls in puberty, young adult women and women in the geriatric age. Material and methods: 150 women were examined: 50 12-year-old pupils, 50 20-22-year-old students and 50 women aged 60-84. Their height and weight were measured, BMI calculated and the status of body weight determined as normal, overweight or obese. The Zebris Pointer ultrasound system analyzed the position of the spine in the sagittal and frontal plane, the symmetry of the shoulders and pelvis in the frontal plane, and the balance of the torso in the sagittal and frontal plane. The results were developed with the Statistica programme. Basic descriptive statistics, multiplicity tables, Shapiro-Wilk test (study of normality of distribution) and Kruskal-Wallis test (inter-group comparison) were used. Differences between groups were assumed to be significant when p<0.05. Results: Age significantly differentiated the BMI index of the surveyed. Overweight and obesity was more prevalent in the oldest age group. The size of thoracic kyphosis expressed in degrees was similar in all the surveyed, although hypokyphosis was observed more frequently in the female pupils and hyperkyphosis in the female students. Lumbar lordosis was significantly higher in the students when compared to the other groups. Hypolordosis was most common in the seniors. The students and seniors also differed in terms of the balance of the torso in the sagittal plane. Excessive backward inclination was diagnosed in 42% of the students (total backward shift of the centre of gravity of the human body), which was twice as rare in the female students and four times as rare in the seniors. Asymmetric position of the right and left shoulder and hip girdles was common in every group of the women surveyed. Side bendings of the spine were most often observed in the female pupils, and least frequently in the seniors. Left-sided bendings were more frequent than right-sided ones. Conclusions: The age of women affects the position of the torso more in the sagittal plane than in the frontal one. The size of lumbar lordosis is an element of the body posture most significantly differentiating women between 12 and 84 years of age. Hyperlordosis is more characteristic of young adult women, whereas hypolordosis of seniors. Hyperkyphosis is most common in female students while hypokyphosis in adolescent girls.

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The aim of this study has been to determine the relationship between the shape of the thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis and sagittal trunk inclination, and the longitudinal and transverse arches of the feet, the position of the hallux and the fifth toe in women with normal and excessive body weight. Material and methods: Eighty nine women aged from 57 to 84 were studied. The shape of the spine was examined using the Zebris pointer ultrasound system, and the shape of feet was evaluated with a podoscope with a 3D scanner. The data analysis was performed using the Statistica v13 software, frequency tables, descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the post hoc Tukey test, and Spearman’s rank-order correlations coefficient. Obesity has been reported to increase thoracic kyphosis, increase the forward lean of the trunk and flatten the longitudinal arch of the feet. It was found that there is a relationship between the forward lean of the body and the reduction in the longitudinal and transverse arch of the feet and the valgus position of the hallux, and between the degree of thoracic kyphosis and the valgus position of the hallux. Excess body weight, to a greater extent than age, influences the position of the trunk and the shape of feet in older women. A feature of the body posture that is characteristic of older women is the progression of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, the forward lean of the body and the lowering of the arch of the feet.

Adequate length and tension of postural muscles are necessary to maintain proper body posture and enable basic movement patterns to be correctly carried out. These muscles include the hamstrings. Research results show that these are often characterised by reduced elasticity and excessive passive stiffness. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between hamstring shortening, body posture and excessive body weight in physically active boys. The study involved 69 boys aged from 6 to 19 years who regularly took part in football training (at least three times a week) for at least 12 months. Body height (calibrated anthropometer), body weight (electronic balance TANITA), torso positioning in three planes (ultrasonic system ZEBIS Pointer) and the flexibility of the hamstrings (goniometer) were analysed. Descriptive statistics, cardinality tables, the Kruskal-Wallis test and an effect size were used in statistical analysis. The reduction of hamstring elasticity in both legs was diagnosed in 50.72 % and in one leg in 13.05 % of the boys studied, while 24.65 % were overweight and 4.35 % were obese. No significant differences in the torso position were found in the groups distinguished by hamstring flexibility. However, subjects with hamstring shortening tended to have increased pelvic torsion, increased angular kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, have greater asymmetry of the right and left pelvis and shoulders, and increased scoliotic deformities. A significant correlation was found between hamstring flexibility, body weight and body mass index (BMI). Common hamstring shortening in boys taking part in football training does not significantly affect body posture but significantly correlates with body weight and BMI. Stretching exercises and soft tissue mobilisation techniques should be included in the football training of young players.

The aim of the study was to compare the shape of the feet, the mobility of the metatarsophalangeal and interphalangeal joints and the flexibility of the calf muscles in older women with hallux valgus versus middle-aged women with and without this deformation to identify the presence of features which correlate particularly strongly with hallux valgus, and on which prophylaxis and conservative treatment should focus. The study involved 201 women: 92 aged 60–84 years with hallux valgus of both toes, 78 aged 38–59 with hallux valgus of both toes, and 31 aged 38–57 years with correctly shaped feet. The intensity of pain in the foot, the valgus angle of the big toe and fifth toe, the longitudinal and transverse arches of the foot, the symmetry of foot load with body weight, toe joint mobility and muscle flexibility were analysed. Both groups of women with hallux valgus differed from women with normal feet in the height of the transverse arch, the extent of dorsal extension in the first metatarsophalangeal joint and plantar flexion in the first interphalangeal joint. Older women were additionally characterised by reduced plantar flexion in the metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe, limited flexibility of the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles as well as less pain in the toe area than in the foot itself. The most characteristic changes which were observed in older women with hallux valgus are a limited range of motion in the MTP and IP joints of the big toe, a reduced transverse arch and increased restriction of calf muscle flexibility.