Body posture characterization in children in social vulnerability

Abstract

© 2015, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. All rights reserved. Objective. To characterize the body posture profile according to age and sex of scholar children in social vulnerability. Method. We evaluated 90 students of both sexes, 6-to 11-years-old. We assessed de- mographic data, growth, and body posture, with photogrammetry. We compared three aged groups (GI=24 children 6 years old, GII=42 children 7 to 9 years old, and GIII=24 children 10 to 11 years old) and gender. Results. The mean age was 8.04±1.75 years and they were predominantly normal weighted individuals (67.77%). The average per capita family income was 236 reais (~74.35 US$). The posture had higher Q-angle values observed at right Q-angle (ÂQD=21.84) and left Q-angle (ÂQE=22.42) in GIII comparad to GI (ÂQD=15.48 and ÂQE=11.02), and GII (ÂQD=19.40 and ÂQE=20.22). Girls had averages ÂQD 22.45º (p=0.018) and ÂQE 23.93º (p=0.0001) higher than boys (p=0.048). The average body vertical alignment (2.33º) and horizontal head alignment referenced to C7 (48.22º) were higher in boys (p=0.048). Most of children showed anterior pelvic tilt in right (95.55%) or left (97.77%). Conclusion. The main body characteristics changes identified were forward head, medial deviation of the patella, pelvic misalignment.