Alignment of the Sternum and Sacrum as a Marker of Sitting Body Posture in Children

Abstract

An analysis of literature on the methods of assuming a sitting position and the results of our own research indicated the need to search for biomechanical parameters and existing relationships that would enable a description of sitting body posture. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between the alignment of the body of sternum and sacrum and the changes in the thoracic and lumbar spine curvatures in children. The study involved 113 subjects aged 9-13 years. A planned simultaneous measurement of the angle parameters of the alignment of the body of sternum and sacrum relative to the body's sagittal axis and the angle parameters of the thoracic and lumbar spine curvatures was performed during a single examination session. The proposed markers of alignment in the corrected sitting body posture are characterized by homogeneous results. A high measurement repeatability was observed when determining the corrected body posture in the study setting. It was noted that changes in the alignment of the body of sternum and sacrum resulted in changes in the thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis angle values, which may be an important component of clinical observations of sitting body posture in children. Implementing the body of sternum alignment angle of about 64° relative to the body's sagittal axis in clinical practice as one of the objectives of postural education may be the target solution for sitting body posture correction in children.