Canonical Correlations between Body Postural Variables in the Sagittal Plane and Scoliotic Variables in School-Children

Abstract

The aim of the study was analysis of the canonical correlations between body posture variables in the sagittal plane and scoliotic variables among school-children. The study included 28 girls aged 7-18. The Moiré photogrammetric method was used in the research. On the basis of the value of spine curvature angle, scoliotic posture: 1-9°; and scoliosis: ≥10° were distinguished. There were 21 (75%) with scoliotic posture and 7 (25%) with scoliosis. In the canonical correlation regarding body posture variables in the sagittal plane, the largest shares concerned: trunk inclination angle (0.035), alpha angle (0.072), angle of chest kyphosis (0.383), length of lumbar lordosis-(-0.301), actual angle of lumbar lordosis/total spine length (-1.067). In the canonical correlation regarding scoliotic variables, the largest shares were related to: shoulder asymmetry -right higher (-0.577), shoulder blade asymmetry -left higher (0.202), absolute pelvis tilt angle (-0.811), coefficient of shoulder asymmetry relative to C 7 (0.324), depth of primary curvature/total spine length (0.420), primary curvature angle (0.032), length of secondary curvature/total spine length (-0.003). The high value of the canonical correlation coefficient despite lack of significance (R=0.72963; p=0.40075) indicates the possibility of the occurrence of a strong correlation of both sets of variables that can be demonstrated with a larger sample size. In the selection of scoliosis treatment method, the size of the postural variables in the sagittal plane should be taken into account, and each patient's case should be individually considered.Keywords: body postural variables in the sagittal plane, scoliotic posture, scoliosis, the Moiré photogrammetric method