Relation between trunk muscle activity and posture type in women following treatment for breast cancer.

The aim of the work was to determine the activity of trunk muscles in the sagittal plane in relation to body posture type in women treated for breast cancer. Fifty women having undergone treatment for breast cancer, with an average age of 61, participated in the study. All patients were studied by application of the photogrammetric method in order to determine posture; on the basis of the compensation ratio (mu), the examined group was divided into three posture sub-groups: kyphotic (K), lordotic (L) and balanced (R). At Biodex Multi Joint 3 examination system for isokinetic tests, the functional evaluation of trunk flexor muscles and extensor muscles was performed. Women having undergone mastectomy who participate regularly in rehabilitation are characterized by diverse posture types: kyphotic, lordotic and balanced. Women with lordotic posture achieved the highest force-speed parameter values in the trunk muscles irrespective of the muscle group examined, while the lowest values were observed in women exhibiting kyphotic posture. The function of trunk muscles in women following mastectomy depends on body posture type.