[Primary prevention program of the Hungarian Spine Society--Part II. A prospective controlled study of exercises for the improvement of posture]. / A magyar Gerincgyógyászati Társaság primer prevenciós programja--II. Rész. A tartásjavító mozgásanyag kontrollcsoportos prospektív vizsgálata.

INTRODUCTION: The primary prevention program of the Hungarian Spine Society is set around 12 test exercises that assess performance of postural muscles and then develops their strength and flexibility. By this the scheme aims to make the biomechanically correct use of the spinal column spontaneous. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The application of the scheme in the frame of physical education in a primary school was investigated in a prospective controlled study in the school-year of 2001/2002. Participating children were aged 6 to 14. The intervention group (n=200) regularly did the posture correction exercises with their teacher's direction in physical education classes, while the control group (n=213) did not. The 12 test exercises of the posture correction scheme of the Hungarian Spine Society were tested by an independent physiotherapist at the beginning and at the end of the school-year in both groups. Results were analyzed by paired and unpaired t-tests and by a chi-square test. RESULTS: At the end of the school-year the strength and flexibility of the postural muscles of the intervention group improved significantly compared both to their own performance (p<0.01) at the beginning of the school-year and to the control group. Test results of the control group were significantly (p<0.05) worse at the end of the school-year than their own results at beginning of the school-year, and were more significantly (p<0.01) worse than the test results of intervention group. CONCLUSION: The results of the controlled study confirm that regular use of the preventive exercises in physical education improves the strength and flexibility of postural muscles. In order to analyze the results concerning specific muscle groups or age groups a detailed study with age- and gender-matched controls will be necessary.

[Primary prevention program of the Hungarian Spine Society--part I. Scientific background of the posture correction exercise scheme]. / A Magyar Gerincgyógyászati Társaság primer prevenciós programja--I. rész. A tartásjavító mozgásanyag elméleti alapja.

The primary prevention program of the Hungarian Spine Society aims to increase awareness of the need to develop and automatically maintain a biomechanically correct posture for all school children. The biomechanically correct posture is a dynamic balance based on a correct middle position of the pelvis and on muscle balance. In this position three important anatomical points--the left and right anterior superior iliac spines and the upper medial point of the pubic bone--form one frontal plane. From side-view the imaginary weight median of the body crosses the 2nd to 5th lumbar and the 2nd to 5th cervical vertebral bodies. When the muscles involved in posture are in balance, their strength and flexibility are just appropriate for the almost continuous work required against gravity. In case of static and/or dynamic under- or overload tonic muscles become shortened, and phasic muscles become stretched, and are no longer able to work optimally. Since many muscles and muscle parts that are involved in normal posture maintenance are not satisfactorily challenged in regular physical exercises and sport activities, the preventive exercise scheme of the Hungarian Spine Society aimed to involve these rarely used muscles in special strengthening and stretching exercises. The scheme is based on 12 test exercises that assess the strength and flexibility of postural muscles. A person who is able to do all test exercises correctly has no problem with his or her muscle balance. In order to counteract the harm caused by sedentary lifestyle already in childhood, regular use of this posture correction scheme in physical education starting from preschool throughout the school-years is recommended for all children.