Abstract
BackgroundLower extremity defects in healthy children raises interest of researchers as confirmed by numerous published original and review articles. The relationship between lower extremity postural defects and body mass are unclear as published data are inconclusive. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to analyse the prevalence of lower extremity defects in a large group of 8- to 12-year-old children; and further to assess the probability of defects associated with values of body mass variables.MethodsThe study included prospective anthropometric measurements data of 6992 children (3476 boys and 3516 girls) from Gdansk (Northern Poland). Standard screening test used in Poland for assessment of lower limb defects were used (intermalleolar or intercondylar distance for knee alignment, linear vertical compass for valgus heel, computer podoscope or classical footprint and measuring the Sztriter-Godunow index for flatfeet). Body mass was assessed with local centile charts and IOTF cutoffs. Prevalence of postural defects was compared with an aid of Pearson’s chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test. Probability of lower extremities postural defect was estimated on the basis of logistic regression analysis, and expressed as an odds ratio (OR) and its 95.0% CI.ResultsThe study demonstrated that cumulative prevalence of lower extremity defects (31.5%) was lower than reported in most published studies, most common defects were valgus heel (21.8%) and valgus knee (14.5%). Boys were significantly more frequently diagnosed with lower limb defects overall (p < 0.001), as well as with varus knee, valgus heel, flatfoot of any degree. Limb defects were found in 90,2% of obese children, 25,7% of normal weight and 15,1% of underweight children.ConclusionsPrevalence of some lower extremities defects seems to be sex specific. Prevalence varied across body weight categories and was rising with the increase of BMI. Increased body mass is correlated with a higher risk of developing lower extremity postural defects in children.
Highlights
Lower extremity defects in healthy children raises interest of researchers as confirmed by numerous published original and review articles
Available data show that children with excessive body weight have higher probability of musculoskeletal pain, bone fractures as well as lower quality of life reported on the mobility scale [6, 7] changes within the lower limbs [8, 9]
Pfeiffer et al [19] showed that 42% of normal weight children, 51% of overweight children, and 62% of obese children had flatfoot based on the assessment of 852 Austrian kindergarten children with three-dimensional laser surface scanner
Summary
Lower extremity defects in healthy children raises interest of researchers as confirmed by numerous published original and review articles. Available data show that children with excessive body weight have higher probability of musculoskeletal pain, bone fractures as well as lower quality of life reported on the mobility scale [6, 7] changes within the lower limbs [8, 9]. This effects in acute health issues like pain [7] and giving a risk of developing health problems in adulthood [10, 11]. Similar data were shown in studies performed in Poland [21] and Span [22] among others
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