posture

Back pain is one of the most common disorders, caused by various factors and leading to diverse consequences. This study aimed to compare specific postural and functional indicators in adolescent boys with and without non-specific chronic low back pain.

The present study employed a causal-comparative design. A total of 30 adolescent male students with non-specific chronic low back pain and 30 healthy adolescent male students were purposefully selected. Individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain were identified using a visual pain scale and confirmed by a physical medicine specialist. Kyphosis and lordosis were assessed using a flexible ruler, proprioception was evaluated through the lumbar angle active reconstruction test at a 30-degree angle using a goniometer, core stability was measured using McGill functional tests, upper limb function was assessed with the Upper Limb Y Test, and static and dynamic balance were evaluated using the Stork Test and the Lower Limb Y Test, respectively. An independent t-test was used to compare the average variables between the two groups.

The findings revealed significant differences in proprioception, core stability, and static and dynamic balance between the groups with and without non-specific chronic low back pain. However, the two groups observed no significant differences between other variables.

These results highlight the importance of proprioception, core stability, and static and dynamic balance in adolescent boys with non-specific chronic low back pain. Rehabilitation protocols for this population should prioritize developing and strengthening these components.

Body posture in children has been a focus of research for decades. Posture refers to the way the human body is positioned against the force of gravity. When musculoskeletal structures are still developing during childhood, establishing good postural habits is crucial for long-term health [1]. Studies have shown that good posture is associated with appropriate physical performance in children. For example, research indicates a correlation between good posture and improved athletic performance.

Advancements in communication technology have led to the rise of mobile Play to Earn games (P2E), causing increased smartphone usage. As players engage more frequently in these games, they earn more in-game currency. However, excessive gaming is associated with musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the neck and upper extremities, due to poor posture and repetitive movements. We recommend that P2E platform designers warn gamers about the health risks associated with poor posture, repetitive movements, and prolonged smartphone use before they start playing these games. Moreover, health professionals, including ergonomists, should guide the public and raise awareness about the health consequences of smartphone overuse. Furthermore, public health programs should focus on educating people on ways to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms.

Forward head posture (FHP) leads to the anterior excursion of the center of gravity, which can affect a person's standing balance. Evaluating the balance in different degrees of severity of FHP can help design and plan appropriate balance exercises for people with FHP.

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in the limits of stability (LOS) in people with mild and moderate-to-severe grades of FHP.

The participants in this study were 70 individuals suffering from FHP, aged between 17 - 45. They were divided into two groups based on their craniovertebral angle: Mild (> 45.5 degrees) and moderate-to-severe (< 45.5 degrees). The LOS test was performed using a posturography device (NeuroCom, Equitest, USA). Five indices—movement reaction time (RCT), movement velocity (MVL), endpoint excursion (EPE), maximum excursion (MXE), and directional control (DCL)—were evaluated.

Based on the results of the LOS test, RCT, MVL, EPE, MXE, and DCL were significantly different between the mild and moderate-to-severe FHP groups in both anterior and posterior directions (P < 0.05). However, in other directions, no significant difference was observed in these variables based on the LOS test (P > 0.05).

It can be concluded that individuals with moderate-to-severe FHP are more likely to have postural control deficits. Therefore, it is necessary to design appropriate targeted interventions to prevent falls in these individuals. Specifically, they should receive balance exercises in dynamic situations.

This study aims to investigate the effects of an eight-week sensorimotor training (SMT) program with visual feedback (VF) on knee joint proprioception and alignment in women with dynamic knee valgus (DKV).

In this quasi-experimental study, 30 women with DKV were selected and randomly divided into two groups (intervention and control groups) of 15 participants each. The intervention group underwent an eight-week VF-based SMT program consisting of three sessions lasting 60 minutes each week. Meanwhile, the control group continued with their daily routine during this period. After the training, all participants’ knee joint proprioception and alignment were assessed using the single-leg squat test (SLST) and single-leg landing test (SLLT). The results were analyzed using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in the IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 26, with a significance level of P<0.05.

The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) results indicated a significant improvement in proprioception (P=0.038) and knee alignment (P=0.001) in the intervention group compared to the control group.

The study suggests that practicing SMT with VF can enhance knee joint proprioception and alignment in women with DKV.

This study investigates the relationship between the scores of upper extremity functional tests with isokinetic strength, range of motion, shoulder proprioception, and posture of male volleyball players.

A total of 30 male university volleyball players aged 18 to 24 years were selected by the convenience sampling method. The concentric strength of the internal and external rotators, abductors, flexors, adductors, and extensors of the shoulder was measured at speeds of 180 and 300 degrees per s using an isokinetic dynamometer. Shoulder proprioception was also assessed at 45 and 90 degrees using an isokinetic device. Also, the range of motion of flexion, extension, abduction, and internal and external rotation at 90 degrees of abduction was measured using a universal goniometer. The forward head and shoulder angles were also assessed by photography and using the AutoCAD software. Finally, upper extremity function was assessed using a Y-balance device. 

The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between variables at a significance level of P<0.05 using the SPSS software, version 20. The results of the Pearson correlation test showed a positive and significant relationship between the isometric strength variables at torques of 180 and 300 (degrees/s) for flexion and extension, abduction and adduction, internal and external rotation (P>0.05), and between the proprioception variables at 45 and 90 degrees of shoulder abduction (P>0.05), and between the range of motion variables for shoulder flexion, shoulder extension, shoulder abduction, shoulder internal rotation, and shoulder external rotation (P>0.05) with the upper extremity functional test. Also, a negative and significant relationship was observed between the forward head angle (P>0.05) and shoulder forward angle (P>0.05) with the upper extremity functional test. 

Based on the findings of the present study, there is a significant relationship between the scores of upper extremity functional tests with isokinetic strength, proprioception, and range of motion of the shoulder joint, as well as the posture of volleyball athletes. Coaches and specialists can focus on improving these variables to improve shoulder function and prevent injury in volleyball athletes.

Painful trigger points (PTP) may be caused or exacerbated by many factors, including abnormal spinal posture. This study compares PTP in the shoulder and scapular areas of mildly kyphotic subjects versus subjects with a normal spine among physiotherapy (PT) students enrolled at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz City, Iran.

A total of 60 PT students, 30 with mild kyphosis and 30 with a normal spine, were randomly and voluntarily recruited. The data collection was planned based on the subjects’ spinal posture, shoulder and scapular pain levels, and the intensity of pain evoked in response to pressure. The spinal posture was assessed using a flexible ruler, while the trigger points were evaluated as described previously by Travell and Simon. A digital pressure algometer assessed the subjects’ pain thresholds, and the pain levels were quantified using a visual analog scale (VAS).

The data indicated significant differences between the mildly kyphotic subjects and individuals with a normal thoracic spine posture concerning their trigger points, pain scales, and pressure thresholds that caused pain. Despite the significant differences between both groups for their latent trigger points, the mean scores for the active trigger points were not significantly different.

There were more trigger points in students with mild kyphosis than in subjects with a normal spine posture. Meanwhile, mild thoracic kyphosis, likely from imbalanced paraspinal muscles, may be linked to the development and or severity of trigger point pain in mildly kyphotic students.

Neck pain is the most common complaint that we deal with in orthopedics, most of which are information technology (IT)professionals. These individuals have vocational mismanagement which leads to high incidence of forward head posture (FHP).

A cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2019 to June 2019 during which a total of 300 patients were taken into study. Clinical assessment of neck pain, head posture, range of motion (ROM), and radiological assessment of craniovertebral angle (CVA) and anterior head translation (AHT) was done.

Out of 300 patients, the majority of the patients were men. Onaverage, men used computers for 9.6 hours compared to 9.2 hours for women. The average CVA was higher in women (58.8). The average AHT was more in men (22.9).

As compared with the previous literature, our study showed that 84.3% of male and 92.91% of female participants had FHP. CVA was lower, while AHT was higher in both groups than the usual range. The mean AHT in our sample was 18.8 mm, which was found to be aberrant in the prior research studies. In our study, we have found a negative correlation between the CVA and AHT, resulting in FHP, which can furthermore lead to early changes of cervical spondylosis in IT employees, probably due to long hours of desktop usage resulting in fixed postural habit.

One of the important principles of workstation design is the anthropometric compatibility of the workstation with people. Designing workstations by the anthropometric characteristics of employees can prevent awkward working postures and reduce the risk of such disorders. The present study aimed at investigating the anthropometric compatibility of workstations among Female Tailors and its association with working postures.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in female tailors in north Khorasan province in 2021. Participants were randomy selected and invited to the study. Working postures were assessed in workstations using the NERPA technique. Anthropometric dimensions were measured by ISO 7250 and anthropometric compatibility with the workstation was investigated. Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and T-test were used when analyzing the data.

two hundered and ninty six tailors with a mean age of 26.5±12.7 years participated in this study. There was no significant association between posture scores and anthropometric conformity in the dimensions of chair back height, width, and depth. Anthropometric Compatibility with chair height and desk height is the only important factor of a workstation with a significant effect on people's posture (P<0.01). The final score of the NERPA method determined that 30 workstations (15%) had a low-risk level, and 166 stations (85%) had a high-risk level.

Anthropometric incompatibility with workstation generally deteriorated the working postures. However, anthropometric compatibility with seat-height and desk height were the ones with a significant association with working posture. Therefore, the seat height and desk heightshould be considered first for redesigning workstations.

Back pain and neck pain are prevalent health concerns, emphasizing the importance of identifying effective risk factors for prevention. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and validate a tool assessing back and neck pain in adults, with a specific focus on body posture, to the Persian language.

A methodological study was conducted involving forward and backward translation of the original English questionnaire into the Persian language. Face validity was evaluated with feedback from 30 participants, and content validity was determined using content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index based on expert opinions from 10 physiotherapy specialists. A total of 237 participants were involved in the study, with 90 completing the questionnaire again after one week for test re-test reliability assessment.

The Persian version of the questionnaire demonstrated high content validity with a CVR above 0.6. The Persian version had suitable face validity. Test re-test reliability, assessed using percentage agreement and the Kappa coefficient, revealed satisfactory results, with all percentages above 70%. Notably, the intraclass correlation coefficient for questions 16 and 20 was 0.898 and 0.878, respectively.

The Persian version of the tool exhibits high validity and reliability, making it a valuable instrument for use within the Persian-speaking community.

Obesity is a major public health concern. Since the prevalence of obesity is increasing, exploring the impacts of obesity on the developing musculoskeletal system is important. The aim of this study was to compare postural balance, muscle force, and spinal posture between children and adolescents with and without obesity.

This is a case-control study on 90 children and adolescents with and without obesity (N=45 in each group). Outcome measures will be postural balance, muscle force, and spinal posture. These outcome measures will be compared between groups.

Evaluation of HbA1c level based on the presence or absence of anemia showed that in diabetic group with anemia significantly had a lower level 8.4 (± 1.5) than people without anemia 8.6 (± 1.5) (P= 0.045).

The findings can determine the importance of assessing musculoskeletal health in children and adolescents with obesity.

This study aimed to evaluate the ergonomics of the office workplace and determine the cut-off point of the workstation layout checklist (WSLC) and the work posture checklist (WPC) of computer users.

The descriptive-analytical was performed among 200 office staff willing to cooperate at the university. To collect data and evaluate workstations and the posture of employees, the WSLC and WPC were used, respectively. The ROC curve was used to determine the cut point of the final score of the checklists.

The optimal cut-off point value for the WSLC was 14.5 (sensitivity = 91.2, specificity = 77.8, and area under the curve = 0.89). Similarly, the best cut-off point value for the WPC was identified as 8.5, with a sensitivity of 93.9, specificity of 71.8, and area under the curve of 0.88. The evaluation results showed that 25 % of the workstations and 32 % of the working postures of the employees were at an undesirable level.

Determining the cut-off point for valid WSLC and WPC plays a crucial role in evaluating the cost, facilitation, speed, and repetition associated with office workplaces, thereby categorizing them as either desirable or undesirable. A quarter of the workstations and a third of the working postures of the employees were evaluated as undesirable.

Rate dependence, where the initial value of a variable plays a crucial role in determining the extent and/or direction of change following an intervention, is a known factor contributing to an individual’s response to drug and non-drug interventions. Surprisingly, it is not known if there is a rate-dependent effect on outcomes following a massage therapy intervention. We assessed whether there is a rate-dependent effect on forward shoulder posture (FSP), pectoralis major length (PECL), and muscle excitation of the upper (UT), middle (MT), and lower trapezius (LT), and pectoralis major (PEC) following 4 minutes of myofascial release (MFR) to the pectoral fascia.

Fifty-nine right-handed participants (27±9 years, 30 females) with FSP, but otherwise asymptomatic shoulders with one MFR treatment administered by a registered massage therapist were recruited. FSP, PECL, and muscle excitation during a reaching task were measured before (PRE) and after the treatment (POST). Correlations were conducted on the difference between PRE and POST values and the sum of PRE and POST values divided by two for all variables.

There were no significant correlations between change scores and the average PRE and POST scores for any variable.

There is no rate-dependent effect on FSP, PECL, and muscle excitation following a 4-minute MFR intervention. These results are the first to suggest that baseline characteristics do not influence individual responses to a massage intervention. Future work should aim to determine whether speed dependence varies with different doses and types of massage interventions and patient-reported outcomes (pain, anxiety, function, etc.) and muscle/tissue characteristics (stiffness, etc.).