Effects of Sitting Habits and Physical Activity Levels on Spine and Pelvis Deformations in School Children

• Main Authors: Mun-Ku Song, Ji-Young Kong, Ji-Hyun Park, Chul-Ho Shin, Hyun-Sik Kang
• Format: Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: The Korean Society of Exercise Physiology 2017-02-01
• Series: 운동과학
• Subjects: children; physical activity; sitting posture; pelvic deformation; spinal deformation
• Online Access: http://www.ksep-es.org/upload/pdf/es-26-1-32.pdf
• ISSN: 1226-1726; 2384-0544

PURPOSE This study investigated the association between the modifiable risk factors and spinal deformations in children. METHODS Children (152 boys, 153 girls) were recruited to participate in the study. Physical activity level, sitting time, and posture were assessed with a questionnaire. Spinal parameters such as scoliosis angle (SA), pelvic oblique (PO), and pelvic torsion (PT) were measured with the Formetric 4D. Children were classified as uncrossed and cross-legged sitting groups according to postures, as sedentary, moderately-active, and highly-active groups according to physical activity levels, and as low, mid, and high groups according to sitting time. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of pelvic deformations. RESULTS Children with cross-legged sitting posture had significantly higher values in SA and PO than children with uncrossed sitting posture. Significant differences in SA, PO, and PT were found between the activity-based subgroups and a significant difference in PT between the sitting time-based subgroups. Compared with uncrossed sitting children (reference, OR=1), cross-legged sitting children had a significantly risk (OR=3.153, 95% CI=1.707-5.822) of PO deformation. Compared with highly active children (reference, OR=1), sedentary children had a significantly higher risk (OR=4.115, 95% CI=1.496-11.321) of PO deformation. In addition, moderately- active and sedentary children had significantly higher risks (OR=3.987 and 95% CI=2.044-7.777 and OR=5.806 and 95% CI=2.675-12.601, respectively) of PT deformation as compared with highly-active children (reference, OR=1). CONCLUSIONS The current findings suggest that crossed-legged sitting posture and decreased physical activity are two of modifiable risk factors for spinal deformations in children.