Reference values for characterizing posture of schoolchildren using the photogrammetry

Abstract

Introduction: The literature describing growth adaptations related to body posture up to adolescence is limited, possible due to the lack of reference values for this population. Objective: To describe reference values for the photogrammetric method of static body posture in the sagittal plane, for children and adolescents, for the head, shoulder, spine, pelvis and knee segments. Methods: The sample size consisted of 492 schoolchildren from Rio Grande do Sul, of both sexes, aged 7 to 17 years, who were evaluated by: (1) anamnesis and (2) static postural assessment. The photographs were analyzed using the DIPA© software, which provided the postural variables (in degrees): head posture, shoulder posture, cervical, thoracic and lumbar curvature angles, and pelvic and knee posture. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA with independent factorial design for multivariate analyses were performed. Results: The level of biological maturation did not influence any of the postural variables. For head and cervical spine posture, the reference values are 43.7º - 56.6º and 30.8º - 50.6º, respectively, covering all age groups. The other postural variables were differently influenced by sex and age group. Conclusion: The study presents reference values for posture in the sagittal plane of children and adolescents, based on the mean and standard deviation (at the 15th and 85th percentiles) of the postural variables. These values may support future evaluations using the photogrammetry method in this population.