Regular School Sport versus Dedicated Physical Activities for Body Posture-A Prospective Controlled Study Assessing the Sagittal Plane in 7-10-Year-Old Children.

Mateusz Kozinoga,Katarzyna Politarczyk,Piotr Janusz,Krzysztof Korbel,Tomasz Kotwicki,Łukasz Stoliński

doi:10.3390/jcm11051255

Mateusz Kozinoga, Katarzyna Politarczyk + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11051255

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Abstract

Body posture develops during the growing period and can be documented using trunk photography. The study aims to evaluate the body posture in children aged 7–10 years undergoing a dedicated physical activities program versus regular school sport. A total of 400 children, randomly chosen from a cohort of 9300 participating in a local scoliosis screening program, were evaluated twice at a one-year interval. A total of 167 children were involved in regular school sport (control group), while 233 received both school sport and a dedicated physical activities program (intervention group). Standardized photographic habitual body posture examination was performed at enrollment (T0) and one-year after (T1). Sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), thoracic kyphosis (TK), chest inclination (CI), and head protraction (HP) were measured. At T0, the body posture parameters did not differ between groups. At T1 in the controls, all five parameters tended to deteriorate (insignificant): SS p = 0.758, LL p = 0.38, TK p = 0.328, CI p = 0.081, and HP p = 0.106. At T1 in the intervention group, the SS decreased (p = 0.001), the LL tended to decrease (p = 0.0602), and the TK, CI, and HP remained unaltered. At T1, the SS and LL parameter differed between groups statistically (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0064, respectively) and clinically (2.52° and 2.58°, respectively). In 7–10-year-old children, participation in dedicated physical activities tends to improve their body posture compared to regular school sport.

Highlights

Harmonious arches characterize the shape of sagittal curvatures in a normal spine, which provides both mobility and stability [1]
Increased sagittal spine curvatures combined with increased chest inclination and head protraction are observed in children with weak postural muscles [3] and in adults with myofascial pattern back pain [4]
The study aims to assess the impact of dedicated physical activities versus regular school sports on a child’s body posture in a cohort of 7–10-year-old children

Summary

Introduction

Harmonious arches characterize the shape of sagittal curvatures in a normal spine, which provides both mobility and stability [1]. Body posture develops throughout childhood and adolescence [2]. Increased sagittal spine curvatures (thoracic kyphosis or lumbar lordosis) combined with increased chest inclination and head protraction are observed in children with weak postural muscles [3] and in adults with myofascial pattern back pain [4]. The standardized photographic assessment of lateral trunk view can reliably quantify body posture and was validated for 7–10-year-old children [5]. The influence of physical activity on a child’s body posture has not been extensively studied so far. The study aims to assess the impact of dedicated physical activities versus regular school sports on a child’s body posture in a cohort of 7–10-year-old children

Methods

Results

Conclusion