J Drzał-Grabiec1,2, K Walicka-Cupryś1,2, K Zajkiewicz1,2, M Rachwał1,2, P Piwoński1,2, L Perenc1,2. 1. Institute of Physiotherapy, Rzeszow University, Rzeszow, Poland. 2. Centre for Innovative Research in Medical and Natural Sciences, Medical Faculty of University of Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Systematic observations of fetal posture show that, although for most of the time the fetus does not have a preferred posture, it has a certain repertoire of repeated active postures. The observed postures cannot be considered random configurations of head and limb position: the fetus and the young infant have an active, but variable posture that is relatively unrelated to the orientation of the force of gravity. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study included 101 children, aged 6-7, including 50 preterm children, 48 boys and 53 girls (research group) and 51 full-term children; 22 boys and 53 girls (control group). The photogrammetric method with moire effect on Mora 4G CQ Elektronik was used to examine the body posture. RESULTS: Significant statistical differences in GAMMA (p< 0.001) and KLL (p= 0.020) parameters in preterm children and in control group were noted. Both parameters presented higher value in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The posture of preterm children is characterized by a smaller angle of upper thoracic curvature and smaller angle of lumbar lordosis. The posture of preterm children in sitting position is characterized by a smaller angle of thoracic kyphosis. Preterm birth disturbs the development of proper antigravitational mechanism and causes possible posture dysfunctions at the age of 6.
BACKGROUND: Systematic observations of fetal posture show that, although for most of the time the fetus does not have a preferred posture, it has a certain repertoire of repeated active postures. The observed postures cannot be considered random configurations of head and limb position: the fetus and the young infant have an active, but variable posture that is relatively unrelated to the orientation of the force of gravity. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The study included 101 children, aged 6-7, including 50 preterm children, 48 boys and 53 girls (research group) and 51 full-term children; 22 boys and 53 girls (control group). The photogrammetric method with moire effect on Mora 4G CQ Elektronik was used to examine the body posture. RESULTS: Significant statistical differences in GAMMA (p< 0.001) and KLL (p= 0.020) parameters in preterm children and in control group were noted. Both parameters presented higher value in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The posture of preterm children is characterized by a smaller angle of upper thoracic curvature and smaller angle of lumbar lordosis. The posture of preterm children in sitting position is characterized by a smaller angle of thoracic kyphosis. Preterm birth disturbs the development of proper antigravitational mechanism and causes possible posture dysfunctions at the age of 6.
Entities:
Keywords:
Body posture; photogrammetric method; preterm infant; spine