Spine curvature analysis between participants with obesity and normal weight participants: a biplanar electromagnetic device measurement.

Manuel González-Sánchez,Antonio I Cuesta-Vargas,Jin Luo,Raymond Lee

doi:10.1155/2014/935151

Manuel González-Sánchez, Antonio I Cuesta-Vargas + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/935151

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Abstract

To analyse and compare standing thoracolumbar curves in normal weight participants and participants with obesity, using an electromagnetic device, and to analyse the measurement reliability. Material and Methods. Cross-sectional study was carried out. 36 individuals were divided into two groups (normal-weight and participants with obesity) according to their waist circumference. The reference points (T1–T8–L1–L5 and both posterior superior iliac spines) were used to perform a description of thoracolumbar curvature in the sagittal and coronal planes. A transformation from the global coordinate system was performed and thoracolumbar curves were adjusted by fifth-order polynomial equations. The tangents of the first and fifth lumbar vertebrae and the first thoracic vertebra were determined from their derivatives. The reliability of the measurement was assessed according to the internal consistency of the measure and the thoracolumbar curvature angles were compared between groups. Results. Cronbach's alpha values ranged between 0.824 (95% CI: 0.776–0.847) and 0.918 (95% CI: 0.903–0.949). In the coronal plane, no significant differences were found between groups; however, in sagittal plane, significant differences were observed for thoracic kyphosis. Conclusion. There were significant differences in thoracic kyphosis in the sagittal plane between two groups of young adults grouped according to their waist circumference.

Highlights

Obesity is one of the most serious and worrying health problems of our time and involves an increase in excess energy stored in the fatty tissues of the body [1], usually as a result of an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure [2, 3]
This study is the first to measure the differences in thoracolumbar curves between participants with obesity and normal weight participants using an electromagnetic device that describes the curvature in two dimensions
The mean angles of the curvatures in the sagittal plane measured by Lundon et al [28] were −38.82∘ (±9.86) for thoracic kyphosis and 30.37∘ (±8.33) for lumbar lordosis, respectively; these were similar to the values obtained in the present study, which were −38.59∘ (±2.71) and 28.02∘ (±3.91), respectively

Summary

Introduction

Obesity is one of the most serious and worrying health problems of our time and involves an increase in excess energy stored in the fatty tissues of the body [1], usually as a result of an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure [2, 3]. Another method has been proposed to identify obesity in individuals, which involves looking at the distribution of body fat [7] allowing the limitations of BMI to be overcome [7] This index is based on the waist circumference (WC) and classifies an individual as a participant with obesity or a nonparticipant with obesity according to gender-specific thresholds, which are 102 cm and 89 cm for men and women, respectively [7]. These values are related to health risks in the same way as a BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 [7]

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