Relationship between postural changes and physical and functional variables in schoolchildren aged 6-12 years

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of postural changes and their relationship with BMI, pain, postures adopted in activities of the daily living (ADL), physical activity practice, gender and age (6 to 12 years). This study is characterized as cross-sectional, quantitative and descriptive. The convenience sample consisted of 840 schoolchildren. Regarding the sample characteristics, 477 (56.79%) were female aged 6-12 years (average=8.90±1.71years). Evaluations were carried out at the school premises and a questionnaire was used to collect data on gender, age, pain report, practice of out-of-school physical activities and postures adopted in ADLs. Body mass, height and posture were evaluated. Some schoolchildren (43.21%) reported not practicing physical activity outside of school, 544 (64.76%) correctly carried their backpack and 51.9% adopted correct postures to study and watch TV. Musculoskeletal pain was reported by 62.73%, and shoulders were the most affected. BMI indicated 55.6% of the sample with leanness/normal weight and 44.40% with overweight/obesity. Postural changes were present in 97.02% of students and the region with the highest number of alterations was the upper limbs. Girls presented greater number of trunk alterations (p=0.001), as well as those who did not practice physical activity (p=0.02) and alterations in the lower limbs for younger students (p=0.02) and female students (p=0.01). This study identified high prevalence of postural changes in schoolchildren.

Association between physical activity and body posture: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Nine studies conducted regression analyses [ 22 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 46 , 51 – 53 , 58 ] and ten studies used correlational analyses [ 35 , 44 , 47 – 50 , 54 – 56 , 59 ]. PA was self-reported in all studies and posture was measured in various ways including Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) [ 51 ], Adam’s test [ 53 , 56 , 58 ], questionnaire [ 44 , 55 ] and qualitative assessment [ 46 ] (Table 1 ).…”

“…To detect and assess scoliosis the studies used the Scoliometer [ 52 ], dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) [ 51 ], Adams Test [ 53 , 56 , 58 ], and the Bunnel inclinometer The lumbar lordosis was assessed using several tools including the flexible ruler [ 35 ], spinal mouse [ 59 ], radiography [ 45 ] and the Bubble inclinometer [ 54 ]. Nine studies reported postural deformities using the following measures: McCloskey/Kanis method [ 22 ], New York Posture Rating (NYPR) test [ 49 ], posture grid and plumb line [ 42 ], radiograph measurement [ 43 ], Hoeger posture assessment method [ 50 ], Instrumento de Avaliação Postural (IAP) [ 47 ], The Jaroš and Lomíček test [ 48 ] and a questionnaire method [ 54 , 55 ]. One study had assessed the possible association between PA and valgus knee by observation and qualitative assessment [ 46 ].…”

“…2 ), results showed that there were significant correlations between PA and body posture ( p = 0.025, CI 95% = 0.012–0.186). The majority of these studies reported that there was a positive correlation between PA and good posture [ 35 , 44 , 48 – 50 , 55 , 59 ]. However, in some cases PA has negative correlation with the postural deformity [ 35 , 47 , 54 , 56 , 59 ].…”

Higiene postural: factores que influyen en una correcta postura en niños y adolescentes. Una revisión sistemática (Postural hygiene: factors that influence correct posture in children and adolescents. A systematic re-view)

“…Estos hallazgos contribuyen a la comprensión de cómo y por qué se desarrollan estas desviaciones, y a la implementación de programas de prevención y rehabilitación, dado que algunos de los factores asociados son modificables. Bertoncello et al, (2021) São Paulo, Brasil 840 escolares 477 niñas de 6 a 12 años 363 niños de 6 a 12 años Evaluar la prevalencia de cambios posturales y su relación con IMC, dolor y posturas adoptadas en actividades de la vida diaria (AVD).…”

“…Sin embargo, existen trastornos en ciertas partes del cuerpo de manera específica, al momento de adoptar posiciones de manera incorrecta, estas pueden causar inestabilidad y desequilibrio (Kinga et al, 2021). De acuerdo con este último punto, debido a una perjudicial alineación postural, se acentúan aún más estas conductas de riesgo, ya que se normaliza adoptar una mala posición que conlleva a una mala higiene postural, además un bajo nivel de actividad física de manera regular, sobrepeso y obesidad, entre otros factores de riesgo (Bertoncello et al, 2021). Dado esto, su cuidado adecuado previene dolores de espalda, dolores de cuello, así también enfermedades como la cifosis, escoliosis, hernias, hiperlordosis, entre otras (Mejía-Balcázar, Aguilar-Aguilar & Mejía-Baraja, 2018), y el contexto escolar no es la excepción (Espinoza, 2018).…”