[Lateral spinal curvature measured among children and teenagers as a health problem of future employees].

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the location of primary lateral curvatures of the spine among children aged 12 to 15.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A study group comprised 503 children aged 12 to 15, including 247 (49.11%) girls and 256 (50.89%) boys selected from Primary School No.13 and Secondary School No. 4 in Starachowice. The following parameters were recorded: average height--161.45 cm (girls) and 165.41 (boys); body mass--50.84 kg (girls) and 52.74 kg (boys); and BMI--19.43 (girls) and 19.08 (boys). The spatial photogrammetric method with use of projection chamber effect was applied in the study.

RESULTS

In the whole group, there were only 3 children (0.60%) with correct body posture. The majority of children showed thoracic curvatures (TH)--234 (46.80%), this was followed by lumbar curvatures (L)--170 (34.00%), and thoracic-lumbar curvatures (THL)--96 (19.20%).

CONCLUSIONS

Lateral spinal curvatures appear frequently. The study showed a strong relation between the location of primary curvature, gender (p < 0.001) and age (p < 0.001) of the examined children.