Prevalence of postural deviations and associated factors in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Prevalence of postural deviations and associated factors in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study [I] Prevalência de variações posturais e fatores associados em crianças e adolescentes: um estudo transversal [A] Mariana Vieira Batistão, Roberta de Fátima Carreira Moreira, Helenice Jane Cote Gil Coury, Luis Ernesto Bueno Salasar, Tatiana de Oliveira Sato * Universidade Federal de São Carlos, (UFSCar), São Carlos, SP, Brazil [R] Abstract Introduction: Postural deviations are frequent in childhood and may cause pain and functional impairment. Previously, only a few studies have examined the association between body posture and intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Objective: To assess the prevalence of postural changes in school children, and to determine, using multiple logistic regression analysis, whether factors such as age, gender, BMI, handedness and physical activity might explain these deviations. Methods: The posture of 288 students was assessed by observation. Subjects were aged between 6 and 15 years, 59.4% (n = 171) of which were female. The mean age was 10.6 (± 2.4) years. Mean body weight was 38.6 (± 12.7) kg and mean height was 1.5 (± 0.1) m. A digital scale, a tapeline, a plumb line and standardized forms were used to collect data. The data were analyzed descriptively using the chi-square test and logistic regression analysis (signi icance level of 5%). Results: We found the following deviations to be prevalent among schoolchildren: forward head posture, 53.5%, shoulder elevation, 74.3%, asymmetry of the iliac crests, 51.7%, valgus knees, 43.1%, thoracic hyperkyphosis, 30.2%, lumbar hyperlordosis, 37.2% and winged shoulder blades, 66.3%. The associated factors were age, gender, BMI and physical activity. Discussion: There was a high prevalence of postural deviations and the intrinsic and extrinsic factors partially explain the postural deviations. Conclusion: These indings contribute to the understanding of how and why these deviations develop, and to the implementation of preventive and rehabilitation programs, given that some of the associated factors are modi iable. 10,6 (2,4) anos, massa corporal de 38,6 (12,7) kg e altura de 1,5 (0,1)

Effects of a muscular stretching and strengthening school-based exercise program on posture, trunk mobility, and musculoskeletal pain among elementary schoolchildren - a randomized controlled trial

“…Furthermore, in children, the whole body posture is influenced by physical development, which depends on nutritional, congenital and environmental factors. Batistão et al [41] found postural changes in children are related to factors such as age, gender, body mass index, handedness and physical activity, using logistic regression analysis. These factors may have influenced the results of this study.…”

Combined Effects of Postural Education, Therapeutic Massage, Segmental Stretching, and Motor Control Exercise in a 19-Year-Old Male with Chronic Back Pain and Kypholordotic Posture: A Case Report

“…It is assumed that decreased flexibility in the thoracolumbar extensors, iliopsoas, rectus femoris, and hamstrings combined with the decreased strength of the abdominal muscles leads to compensatory hyperlordosis and anterior tilting of the pelvis. These postural alterations and the associated muscular imbalance are believed to cause extra mechanical stress to the joint and soft tissue of the lumbar, resulting in pain and functional impairment (17).…”

“…The increase in LLC might be the reason for the increased TKC due to the ongoing compensatory mechanism of the spinal musculature to cope with the increased LLC. Considering the age of the patient and when the problem started, his postural problem could be explained by the fact that many postural alterations originate in childhood and adolescence which they might be partially due to many intrinsic factors such as age and extrinsic factors such as physical activity (17).…”

Faulty posture: Prevalence and its relationship with Body Mass Index and Physical Activity among female adolescents

“…Most adult postural disorders are rooted in childhood and are prevalent in a number of age groups. Diagnosis of these disorders is highly important because children's skeletal system is mutable and easily gets modified [1].…”

“…Postural disorders in adolescence are subject to the influence of various factors including age, nutrition, genetic, environmental factors, behavioral factors such as immobility and lifting heavy objects, socioeconomic status and body mass index (BMI). Given that these disorders often occur in children at school age and last until adulthood, school ages are the critical time period for the diagnosis, prevention and correction of these disorders [1,5,8].…”