Investigation and analysis of the posture characteristics and risk factors implicated in scoliosis among college students

Abstract

Objective The health of the spine is a lifetime problem that may influence function, mobility, and everyday living. The purpose of this research is to investigate spinal morphology screening on college students at Wuhan Sports University, analyze the incidence of scoliosis, associated improper posture features, and other risk factors, and provide evidence for avoiding scoliosis. Methods The questionnaire survey was used to collect basic student information such as gender, height, weight, major, training years, and so on. A physical examination and functional movement screen were used for the primary screening of scoliosis. The angle of trunk rotation (ATR) was measured by the Adams Test, and the thoracic kyphosis angle and the angle of trunk inclination (ATI) were measured by a spinal scan electronic spine measuring instrument. The subjects with anteroposterior X-ray Cobb angle > 10 ° were diagnosed as scoliosis patients. Analyze the influencing factors of scoliosis through the Chi-square test, independent sample t-test, logistic binary regression, and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve. All data were analyzed by SPSS 26.0 statistical analysis software. Results The screening rate for scoliosis among 1,003 college students was 2.2%. Scoliosis was associated with the values of stable trunk rotation (r = -0.113, P < 0.001) and push-up (r = -0.109, P < 0.05). There were also big differences in body shape (high and low shoulders, pelvic tilt, the angle of trunk rotation (ATR), the angle of trunk inclination (ATI), body mass index (BMI), and the arch index (AHI), disciplinary expertise, and grip strength (P < 0.05). Disciplinary majors (OR = 2.994, 95% CI: 1.26–7.11), rotation angle (OR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.49–8.4), and BMI (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.06–1.34) of subjects were risk factors for scoliosis, and the cut-off value of BMI for scoliosis was 20.69. Conclusion The incidence of scoliosis is quite low among college students in technical disciplines (mainly referring to sports and arts majors) and is strongly associated with anomalies in several morphological markers, including BMI, grip strength, and functional motions. Furthermore, it is advisable to use the anticipated cut-off values of body mass index (BMI) of 20.69 and FMS for the purpose of screening for scoliosis, in addition to considering signs of aberrant body morphology.