Work

Height and Postural Deviations of the Spine in School-Age Children: Evaluation with Idiag® Spinal Mouse®

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Throughout childhood, numerous physical changes occur, such as the increase in height, which can lead to the appearance of postural changes in children (Barbosa, 2009). Such ostural deviations are noticeable in the student population through the alteration of the normal curvature of the spine, which may result in a greater vulnerability to musculoskeletal injuries (Levangie & Norkin, 2005). Objectives: To analyse the association between height and the incidence of postural deviations in a sample of students aged between 10 and 18 years old, from Amares, Braga. Methods: 486 students (247 females and 239 males) from public middle schools in Amares county, aged between 10 and 18 years old, were given an individual questionnaire regarding their sociodemographic information, activities of their daily living and clinical history. Measurements of height were individually performed, together with a dynamic evaluation of the spine in the frontal and sagittal anatomical planes using the noninvasive measuring instrument Idiag® Spinal Mouse®. Chi-Square (X2) and Spearman Correlation (rs) tests were executed in IBM SPSS to verify the level of association between variables. Results: In the sagittal plane, a statistically significant association was detected between height and the incidence of the following spinal deviations: hyperkyphosis in general spine inclination, rectification in the thoracic and sacral regions (p-value < 0,05). In the frontal plane, a statistically significant association was also determined between height and the incidence of the following spinal deviations: scoliosis in the sacral and thoracic regions (p-value < 0,05). Conclusions: This study has determined a statistically significant association between the different height ranges considered in the study (<159 cm, 159-177 cm and > 177 cm) and the appearance of hyperkyphosis, curvuture retifications and scoliosis in different regions of spine and in the general inclination of the spine.

Source: European Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz034.082