Weight-height ratios and parameters of body posture in 7-9-year-olds with particular posture types.

BACKGROUND: Small and relatively balanced anteroposterior curvatures and symmetric positioning of the shoulders, scapulae, waist triangles, anterior superior iliac spines, knees and feet are the elements of a good posture. The aim of our study was to determine which somatic features and parameters of spinal curvatures in the sagittal plane show statistically significant differences among children with particular types of body posture. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out in selected primary schools of the Subcarpathian and Silesian regions. We examined a total of 563 randomly selected first- to third-graders whose parents had submitted written informed consent. The study group included 278 boys (49.38%) and 285 girls (50.62%). Twenty-four parameters describing the body posture were determined in every participant using the photogrammetric method. RESULTS: Gender-independent parameters helpful in differentiating postural types comprise the compensation indicator, inclination angle of the superior thoracic spine, C7-PL length (length of kyphosis), and inclination angle of the thoracolumbar spine. CONCLUSIONS: The inclination angle of the lumbosacral spine, total curvature length, position of the apex of lordosis relative to S1, and S1-PL length (length of lordosis), appeared to be the least helpful in differentiating among postural types.