Spinal curvatures of yoga practitioners compared to control participants-a cross-sectional 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.

The Effects of Exercise in Older Adults with Hyperkyphotic Posture

The objective of this review was to investigate the effects of exercise in older adults with hyperkyphosis. Medline and Google Scholar databases were searched from June to August 2022 for studies related to exercise interventions in older adults above 60 years of age. All types of exercise interventions (such as strengthening, stretching, Yoga, and/or any other exercise with a focus on treatment or prevention of postural malalignment) were included. The keywords used were "hyperkyphosis," "exercise," and "older adults." Ten studies were included involving 625 older adults with hyperkyphotic posture. The exercise interventions included spine strengthening (strengthening of back and abdominal muscles), poses of Yoga and postural alignment, and flexibility and respiratory muscle exercises. Duration of exercise programs varied from 6 weeks (1 study) to 8 weeks (3 studies), 12 weeks (4 studies), and 6 months (3 studies). Exercise adherence was generally good in studies. In summary, low to moderate evidence suggest that exercises in age-related hyperkyphosis have a role in the management of this group of patients. It can be beneficial in order to improve postural control, spinal stability, and kyphosis outcomes. The adherence reported across studies suggests that exercise is an acceptable treatment option for people with age-related hyperkyphosis. Types of exercise and dose-response parameters of exercise eliciting improvement warrant further investigation. Due to heterogeneity in clinical trials, future research is needed with the goal of improving the health of our growing geriatric population.

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.