Trunk asymmetry and handedness in 8245 school children

Abstract

The aim of this report is the appraisal of a possible correlation of trunk asymmetry assessed with a scoliometer and lateralization of the brain as expressed by handedness in a school aged population. Many (8245) students (4173 girls and 4072 boys), 6-18 years of age were examined. A checklist was completed for each student including handedness and trunk asymmetry. The standing forward bending test was performed using the Pruijs scoliometer and the examined children were divided into three groups for each of the three examined regions (mid-thoracic, thoracolumbar and lumbar) according to the recorded asymmetry (no asymmetry, 2-7 degrees and > or =7 degrees ). Ninety-one per cent of children were right-handed, while 9% were left-handed. A significant statistical correlation of trunk asymmetry and handedness was found both in boys and girls in the group of asymmetry 2-7 degrees at mid-thoracic (p < 0.038) but not at thoracolumbar and at lumbar region. These findings show that there is significant correlation of mild mid-thoracic asymmetry and the dominant brain hemisphere in terms of handedness, in children who are entitled at risk of developing scoliosis. These findings are implicating the possible aetiopathogenic role of cerebral cortex function in the determination of the thoracic surface morphology of the trunk.

Posture of adolescent male handball players compared to non-athletes

“…Therefore, the results of the present study do not confirm the observations of other authors [11,13,14,15,17,18,21,23,32] who suggested that asymmetric sports training had an effect on the shape of AP curvatures of the spine. There also studies reporting that certain sports disciplines do not affect athletes' posture in the sagittal plane [39,40]. However, the above cited authors did not investigate the posture of handball players.…”

What a school screening program could contribute in clinical research of idiopathic scoliosis aetiology

“…These findings showed that there is significant correlation of mild mid-thoracic asymmetry and the dominant brain hemisphere in terms of handedness, in children who are entitled at risk of developing scoliosis. These findings were implicating the possible aetiopathogenic role of cerebral cortex function in the determination of the thoracic surface morphology of the trunk [36,37]. Kouwenhoven et al later commented on this observation [38].…”

Trunk asymmetry in normal juveniles

“…In the sitting FBP juvenile boys turn 2.45% more symmetric than juvenile girls from standing FBP, a larger percentage compared with the pertinent found for adolescents, indicating different juvenile -adolescent torso dynamics. The asymmetry of ≥7° was 1.49% less from adolescent boys and 2.17% less from adolescent girls at the standing FBP and 0.41% and 0.99% less at the sitting FBP respectively, [2].…”