The impact of physical activity in the: "Keep your body straight" program on the selected features of body posture in frontal and transverse planes in children aged 7-9 years

Abstract

The main causes of majority of health problems in children and teenagers include incorrect health behaviors and adverse effects of socioeconomic environment. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of physical activity in the ‘Keep your body straight’ program on incorrect body postures in children aged 7-9 years. Material and methods. 1864 children in classes I-III of primary schools were included in the study. The assessment of posture was conducted in six half-year long editions under the 3-year program using a photogrammetric method and concerned the same group of pupils. Children participated in corrective activities as a part of the ‘Keep your body straight’ program. The above mentioned program positively influenced the torso bending angle to the left and less to the right. A similar effect was observed in the size of the maximum inclination of the atlas vertebra to the left, in the spinous process and to a lesser extent, in the inclination to the right. In addition, a positive effect was noticed in pelvic rotation in the transverse plane. Other features like the angle of shoulder line, the asymmetry of waist triangle height and width, the asymmetry of shoulders, shoulder blades and pelvis in frontal plane did not reveal any significant differences in the process. Conclusions. 1. Corrective activities of the ‘Keep your body straight’ program combined with education of parents are moderately effective means in the correction process of wrong postures in frontal and transverse planes in children of both sexes aged 7-9 years. 2. Physical activity applied within the program significantly influenced the vertical orientation of torso and maximum deviation of the spinous process of vertebrae in the frontal plane and the value of pelvic rotation in the transverse plane. 3. The effectiveness of the program can be enhanced by an individual approach to every ‘advanced incorrect’ posture in a child, which could not be achieved under the program due to insufficient funds of the school.