Spinal mobility and posture: changes during growth with postural defects, structural scoliosis and spinal osteochondrosis.

A number of case studies were followed for 10 years. Children suffering from postural defects, structural scoliosis and spinal osteochondrosis were separated from a normal group. Spinal mobility and posture were compared with the mobility of normal, healthy boys and girls aged 5-14 years. In postural defects curves similar to the physiologic one were observed. The range of motion was not physiologic in scoliosis. In this disease, rotation-flexion thoracic hypermobility with decreased lumbar flexion ability was found. A physiologic trend was found in spinal osteochondrosis, although sometimes the rotational mobility of the spine was reduced. An extremely high increase of thoracic kyphosis was found only in children aged 14 years.