The effect of habitual sitting posture on peripheral retinal alterations.

PURPOSE: This study aims to characterise peripheral retinal changes in treatment-naïve patients and examine their association with posterior pelvic tilt sitting (PPTS), a daily poor habitual posture.

METHODS

This prospective study included ninety-two treatment-naïve patients, who were evaluated using an indirect ophthalmoscope by a retinal specialist. Pelvic angle during habitual sitting posture was assessed by trained physical therapists. The association between the quantity of detected peripheral retinal alterations and the angle of pelvic tilt with habitual sitting was examined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test. Multiple regression analysis was utilised to identify independent factors contributing towards peripheral retinal alterations.

RESULTS

White without pressure (WWP) was negatively correlated with PPTS (or positively correlated with anterior pelvic tilt sitting) in women (r = - 0.33, p = 0.03), while cobblestone degeneration was positively correlated with PPTS in men (r = 0.33, p = 0.02). Multiple regression analysis revealed that age and PPTS were independent negative contributing factors for WWP in women, whereas PPTS was an independent contributing factor for cobblestone degeneration in men. However, no relationship was found between PPTS and the presence of retinal breaks.

CONCLUSION

Cobblestone degeneration in men and WWP in women were affected by PPTS. Retinal respiratory and circulatory impairment caused by PPTS is considered as reason for increased cobblestone degeneration.