Faulty posture: Prevalence and its relationship with Body Mass Index and Physical Activity among female adolescents

Abstract

SummaryStudy aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of postural disorders and their associated risk factors among high school girls in the city of Tabriz, Iran.Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 female students aged 14 to 18 years. Students were examined using a scoliometer, a Debrunner kyphometer, and a flexible ruler, and were directly studied for genu varum/valgum. The information about possible risk factors such as age, BMI, school bag, study time, use of social networks, and physical activity was collected through demographic survey and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS ver. 22 through independent t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression.Results: 181 participants (45%) had one or more abnormalities such as scoliosis (4%), kyphosis (5%), genu varum (5.7%), genu valgum (9.7%), hyperlordosis (11.2%), and asymmetrical shoulder (24.5%). The risk of hyperlordosis increased with increase in weight (OR: 1.08, 95%CI: 1.02 to 1.15; p = 0.014) and BMI (OR: 1.37, 95%CI: 1.13 to 1.67; p = 0.002). Moreover, the odds for genu valgum increased with increase in weight (OR: 1.07, 95%CI: 1.01 to 1.13; p = 0.045) and BMI (OR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.29 to 2.62; p < 0.001); but it decreased with increase in age (OR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.39 to 0.98; p = 0.039) and not using a study table (OR: 0.31, 95%CI: 0.12 to 0.78; p = 0.013).Conclusions: Forty-five percent of female students had one or more postural abnormalities. Asymmetrical shoulder was the most common disorder. Weight and BMI were associated with genu valgum and hyperlordosis.

Correlation between physical activity and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a systematic review

“…1 ). Five of the articles were cross-sectional studies [ 19 , 26 – 29 ], two were case-control studies [ 30 , 31 ], and one was a cohort study [ 32 ]. Table 1 summarises the main findings of the quality assessment (with a full description in Supplementary Appendix S1 ).…”

“…Among these studies, five described the sex of patients [ 19 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 ], and the prevalence of AIS was higher in girls than in boys. Four studies were conducted in European countries, including Greece, Scotland, the UK, and Switzerland [ 19 , 29 , 31 , 32 ]; three in Asian countries, including Japan, Iran, and China [ 26 – 28 ]; and one study was conducted in South America (Brazil) [ 30 ]. One study focused on athletic populations [ 19 ].…”

“…One study focused on athletic populations [ 19 ]. Two studies measured physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [ 26 , 30 ]. One study used the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to collect self-reported physical fitness/activity data at 18 months and 10 years of age and used an accelerometer to obtain physical activity data of 11-year-old children over 1 week [ 32 ].…”

“…Kenanidis et al [ 19 ] concluded that systematic physical exercise might not be associated with the development of AIS. Golalizadeh et al [ 26 ] reported no statistically significant relationship between AIS and physical activity levels.…”

“…In a cross-sectional study by Golalizadeh et al, the sample size was too small (n = 16) and the use of the IPAQ questionnaire to measure physical activity in growing adolescents was inaccurate, as adolescent physical activity levels were variable. Moreover, short-term exercise may have little effect on AIS [ 26 ], and focus should be placed on the association between long-term exercise and AIS.…”