Variability of Body Build and Physiological Spinal Curvatures of Young People in an Accelerated Longitudinal Study

Sagittal spinal curvatures of young adults in the context of their self-reported physical activity and somatic parameters

The objective of this study was to assess the thoracic kyphosis (ThKA) and lumbar lordosis (LLA) in healthy young adults and to investigate potential relationships between spinal curvatures, self-reported physical activity (PA), and somatic parameters. The study included 380 female students and 211 male students aged 20.7 ± 1.5 years. The ThKA and LLA were measured using a Plurimeter-V gravity inclinometer. The level of PA was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. ThKA was lower in women compared to men, while LLA was higher in women than in men (p < 0.0001). Female students reported lower PA than male students (p < 0.001). Female students with ThKA within normal values reported a significantly higher amount of low-intensity PA compared to those with ThKA below or above the norm. A correlation was found between ThKA and body mass index (BMI), body adiposity index (BAI), WC, and fat percentage (rho < 0.2), whereas LLA showed correlations with BMI, BAI, waist circumference, and fat percentage (rho < 0.2). Among male students, a correlation was found between LLA and BMI as well as WC (rho < 0.2). Maintaining a healthy body composition may be instrumental in mitigating the risk of developing spinal curvature abnormalities.

Differentiation of the body build and posture in the population of people with intellectual disabilities and Down Syndrome: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to identify the variables of the internal compensatory mechanisms that differentiate the body build and posture of people with Down syndrome (DS) from the intellectual disability (ID) population. It was assumed that gaining knowledge in the abovementioned aspect will allow for a better understanding of the limitation of the kinesthetic abilities of people with ID and DS and simultaneously enable to optimize the process of planning and interventions to improve physical activity in this population with the adequate use of theirs strengths in the biomechanical and morphofunctional systems.

METHODS

The methodology of this systematic review was developed according to the PRISMA guidelines. A search of PubMed, EBSCO, Scopus databases was conducted to identify all studies on DS/ID and the body build and posture from 2003 to 2023.

RESULTS

395 articles were assessed to determine eligibility, while 22 studies met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to detailed analysis and assessment of their methodological quality. The differentiation of the body build and posture in DS population can be induced by both internal and external compensatory mechanisms. It is difficult to confirm the direct effect of the intrinsic variables that impact the body build and posture in the ID population, excluding people with DS.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to other ID, the intrinsic differences in the body build and posture in DS individuals were induced by gender, age, and level of ID. The tendency for diversity between DS and other ID populations in body build and posture may be determined by the presence of the third copy of chromosome 21 in DS group. Internal compensatory processes may be induced mainly by abnormalities in the structure of the cervical vertebrae and feet. IQ should not be used as the only variable that identifies the population of people with ID.

The importance of extrinsic and intrinsic compensatory mechanisms to body posture of competitive athletes a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review (qualitative analysis) was to identify the variables of changes induced by extrinsic (sport specific training) and intrinsic (individual anatomical predispositions) compensatory mechanisms that impact on the physiological magnitude of spinal curvatures in the sagittal plane and their deviations in the frontal plane. Furthermore, the aim of the quantitative analysis was to verify and objectivize the impact of these variables on athlete’s body posture. A search of electronic database (PubMed, EBSCO, MEDLINE) was conducted to identify all studies on sports training and athlete’s spine and body posture from 2011 to 2021. In the sagittal plane, the pooled proportion accounted for 44.97% (95% CI 31.22–58.72%) for thoracic hyperkyphosis (TH), 4.98% (95% CI 1.60–8.36%) for lumbar hyperlordosis (hyperLL), and 12.35% (95% CI 1.60–8.36%) for lumbar hypolordosis (hypoLL). Furthermore, in the sagittal plane, the pooled mean of thoracic kyphosis angle was 37.59° (95% CI 34.45–40.73%), whereas lumbar lordosis angle was 29.79° (95% CI 26.46–33.12%). Professional athletes tend to have postural disturbances and/or spinal curvature disorders in the sagittal and frontal planes. The meta-analysis indicated which intrinsic and extrinsic components might induce spinal abnormalities.

Spine Posture, Mobility, and Stability of Top Mobile Esports Athletes: A Case Series

Professional esports athletes spend a long time in the same sitting posture during training and competition. Mobile esports may exacerbate potential postural problems because of the closer and unsupported arms and because athletes spend more time in a forward-/flexed-head posture. Prolonged sitting in these postures carries significant health risks and may lead to musculoskeletal problems and injuries. The objective of this retrospective study is to assess the posture, mobility, and stability of the spine for professional mobile esports athletes. We collected spine-assessment data from 48 athletes participating in a top-tier league on a real-time-strategy battle-arena online game. The spinal assessment was conducted using the SpinalMouse® under upright standing and trunk flexion in addition to the Matthiass test. Measurements were converted into Idiag Scores by the SpinalMouse® software. The Idiag Posture, Idiag Mobility, and Idiag Stability scores were 62.50 (IQR: 21), 63.50 (IQR: 19.5), and 54.50 (IQR: 14.5), respectively, and were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than the reference normative value (100). Age was found to have a weak positive correlation with the posture score (ρ = 0.29, p = 0.048). Although career duration appeared to lower the scores, the association was insignificant (p > 0.05). The scores also had no significant association with body height, body mass, body mass index, and esports team (p > 0.05). It was anticipated that mobile-based esports would attenuate the biomechanics of the spine and increase the likelihood of musculoskeletal problems, such as neck and back pain.

The Importance of Posture And Body Composition for the Stability and Selected Motor Abilities of Professional Handball Players

The aim of the research was to analyze body composition, body posture and postural stability of professional male handball players and to determine the differences between players with correct and incorrect body posture, considering power of the lower limbs and agility, speed, and change of direction deficit. The study comprised 16 professional handball players. Body composition analysis was performed using the method of electrical bioimpedance. Body posture was examined using the Diers formetric III 4D optoelectronic method. Postural stability was tested via the Biodex Balance System. Players performed the following fitness tests assessing lower limb muscle power (LP, HS, CMJ), linear speed (SLS 20 m), and COD speed (Zig-Zag test, COD deficit). Only 31.25% of players demonstrated body posture with correct physiological curvatures, while 68.75% showed changes in body asymmetry. The group with correct body posture performed better in SLS 20m than the group with incorrect posture, yet in the Zig-Zag agility test, the difference in the results was not significant and this affected the COD deficit, which was higher. The vast majority of participants demonstrated postural defects and incorrect physiological curvatures of the spine. The occurrence of scoliotic posture was also observed. The body deflection angles indicated that athletes’ postural stability was good. However, it is worth noting that the majority demonstrated a tendency towards asymmetrical body deflections to the right or to the left, backwards direction. One-sided sports specialization leads to disturbances in the statics of the body, therefore, it becomes necessary to include postural re-education exercises in training.

The Impact of Internal Compensatory Mechanisms on Musculoskeletal Pain in Elite Polish Sitting Volleyball Players – A Preliminary Study

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of (1) maximal muscular strength of the upper body and (2) fat mass on musculoskeletal pain and sagittal spinal curvature deviations in elite Polish sitting volleyball players. The study examined twelve players (age = 35.4 ± 6.9 years). The assessments were performed based on objective (anthropometric examinations, Medi Mouse, 1RM test) and subjective (NMQ = 7) measurements. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS. The lower back, the upper back and the neck were the most frequent painful areas. Statistical analyses showed a significant relationship between lumbar lordosis (LL) sagittal standing extension (r = 0.62; p = 0.03) and thoracic kyphosis (TK) sagittal standing flexion (r = -0.63; p = 0.28) with the 1RM. Furthermore, correlations between a body adiposity index and TK sagittal standing flexion and extension (r = -0.65; p = 0.05, r = - 0.58; p = 0.0.05) as well as LL sagittal standing flexion (r = 0.61; p = 0.05) were found. The body mass index correlated with wrist pain, whereas a very high relationship was found between pain in the wrists and knee joints. Neck pain positively correlated with TK and LL sagittal standing. Low back pain correlated with LL sagittal standing flexion and TK sagittal standing extension. Fat mass impacts the depth of anteroposterior spinal curvatures, what may cause pain in the neck and the lower back. The 1 RM bench press may influence the prevalence and location of musculoskeletal pain, whereas its values might be predicted by the depth of TK. A lower 1RM in the bench press may impact sagittal spinal curvature deviations. Deepen TK and LL significantly contribute to the prevalence of the neck pain.