Evaluation of selected postural parameters in children who practice kyokushin karate

Abstract

Summary Study aim: martial arts can be traced back thousands of years. Karate is one of the most common martial arts, and both children and adults practice it. The aim of the study was to evaluate selected body posture parameters in children aged 7–10 years who regularly practice karate. Material and method: the study population (Group I) consisted of 50 children aged 7–10 years, mean age 8.1 ± 1.5 years, who had been practicing karate more than two years. The control group consisted of 50 children of the same age (Group II). Body posture was assessed with photogrammetric method based on the phenomenon of the projective moiré pattern, using CQ Elektronik equipment. Results: on the basis of analysis of the inclination of the thoracolumbar section of the spine in both the study population and the control group, a statistically significant difference was found. Analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the SIT parameter measurements of the two groups (p < 0.05). There is a similar difference regarding the measurements of depth of thoracic kyphosis and depth of lumbar lordosis (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). Analysis also revealed a statistically significant difference between the mean shoulder line inclination angle parameter measurements for the two groups of children (p < 0.01). Conclusion: karate training children had a significant deepening of physiological thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis. The body posture in karate training children is characterised by a greater angle of thoracolumbar region and a smaller shoulder asymmetry.