Analysis of the prevalence of asymmetry and muscle tone disorders in the first year of life among youth with idiopathic scoliosis: A retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Not much is known about developmental motor disorders in the first year of life of children diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the occurrence of asymmetry or muscle tone disorders in the first year of life in adolescents with IS and their healthy counterparts. METHODS: The parents of adolescents with IS and without scoliosis completed a survey on the occurrence of asymmetry, abnormal muscle tone, and physiotherapy in their children in the first year of life. Pearson's chi square test and Cramer's coefficient were used. RESULTS: The final analysis included 527 surveys completed by parents of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (150) and without scoliosis (377). A significantly higher frequency of asymmetry (p= 0.001) and muscle tone disorders (p= 0.001) was noted in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. The results also revealed a significant association between scoliosis and asymmetry (p= 0.001), as well as muscle tone (p= 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Developmental asymmetry or improper muscle tone in the first year of life could be considered a potential factor in the development of scoliosis; however, this hypothesis should be confirmed in future studies. Infants diagnosed with developmental disorders require systematic observation.

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

The human body is characterized by the variability of the characteristics of body build, which is expressed in the instability of spinal curvatures, which change during ontogeny. This phenomenon leads to a phylogenetic evolution of the human body build and posture. The aim of the study was to assess the dynamics of the variability of traits and indices of body build and posture and their mutual relations. It was assumed that over the 10-year observation period, a significant variability and relationships will be observed between the characteristics of body build and posture in young adults. Between 2006 and 2016, 2154 women and men aged 19.6 ± 0.8 were examined (first-year students at the University of Economics in Katowice, Poland). Measurements of basic anthropometric measurements and angular values of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis were performed. The collected data were analysed statistically, and the intergroup and intragroup differences were evaluated (ANOVA with repeated measures). The dynamics of variability (by building time series) and absolute and single-base increments were determined. The body build of young men and women in the period of ontogenetic stabilization in the study group has changed statistically significantly over the decade. A prediction of the increases in body weight and hip circumference was recorded over a period of 10 years, especially in men. The characteristics of body posture have also undergone a significant progressive change. In women, thoracic kyphosis increased by 96.15%, whereas in men, lumbar lordosis decreased by 52.65%. Significant sexual differentiation was shown for such characteristics as body height, waist circumference and the angle of lumbar lordosis. The relationships between the characteristics of body build and posture were verified. There was a moderate relationship between the hip circumference and lumbar lordosis in women and a weak relationship between body height and the angle of thoracic kyphosis in men.

Is BAI better than BMI in estimating the increment of lumbar lordosis for the Caucasian population?

BACKGROUND: One of the complications of obesity is low back pain, frequently associated with postural disorders. Body adiposity index (BAI) can be calculated without weighing, which may be rendered useful in settings where measuring accurate body weight is problematic. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare two indices of somatic structure, i.e., BAI and BMI regarding their accuracy (specific and sensitive) in predicting postural aberrations. METHODS: The study group comprised of 1281 participants aged 20-22 years, who were students from universities in southern Poland. Anteroposterior spinal curvatures were measured using the Rippstein plurimeter. All subjects were measured for body height (BH) and mass, waist and hip circumference (WC and HC, respectively). RESULTS: In both male and female groups classified according to BAI cut-off points, a significant linear relationship was noted for the lumbar lordosis angle, i.e., the latter increased along with the BAI increase. The analysis of variance confirmed statistically significant differences in lordosis angles in both groups (women f= 19.6, p< 0.001; men f= 21.18, p< 0.001). These data evidenced a weak relationship between LL and the BAI. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) between LL and BAI was 0.2 and 0.21 for men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that, contrary to BAI, BMI value did not indicate a significant difference in lumbar lordosis angle between normal weight and obese participants (women and men).

[Evaluation of the impact of sagittal spinal curvatures on musculoskeletal disorders in young people]. / Ocena wplywu krzywizn kregoslupa w plaszczyznie strzalkowej na dolegliwosci miesniowo-szkieletowe u mlodych osób.

BACKGROUND: In Poland, about 85% of the population report low back pain (LBP) symptoms overall. Moreover, 70-80% of people aged below 20 have already experienced back pain. The primary cause of LBP is the loss of spinal lordosis, which initiates changes in geometry of the spine and has impact on limb arrangement. The aim of the study was to attempt to verify the relationship between the 2 main curvatures of the spine and its relation to symptoms in different parts of the musculoskeletal system, in a group of adults. It was assumed that hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine and misbalance of the thoraco-lumbar junction are risk factors for LBP. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study coverd 231 first-year students, (aged 19-21) of the University of Economics in Katowice. There were 103 men aged 19.5±0.8 years and 128 women aged 19.6±0.8 years. The students completed the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ): 7 days (NMQ7) and 6 months (NMQ6). A Rippstein's plurimeter, was used to measure the angles of thoracic kyphosis (KTH) and lumbar lordosis (KLL). Cut of points was set at 30±5. RESULTS: The results indicate strong and very strong correlation (r = 0.6 and r = 0.8, p < 0.05) between the concave of the back and LBP, which may suggest the relationship between these symptoms and the increased lordosis. CONCLUSIONS: Postural defects in the sagittal plane may predict the occurrence of pain. The results of the study indicate a higher frequency of pain in people with a higher angle of lumbar lordosis. Med Pr 2018;69(1):29-36.