Effects of sitting habits and physical activity levels on spine and pelvis deformations in school children

Song, Munku; Gong, Jiyoung; Park, Jihyun; Shin, Chulho; Kang, Hyunsik; Song, Munku; Gong, Jiyoung; Park, Jihyun; Shin, Chulho; Kang, Hyunsik

Munku Song¹, Jiyoung Gong¹, Jihyun Park², Chulho Shin³, Hyunsik Kang¹

¹College of sport science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Korea
²Graduate School of Physical Education, Kyunghee University, Yongin, Korea
³Department of Sports and Health Care, Namseoul University, Cheonan, Korea

Correspondence

Hyunsik Kang , Tel: 031-299-6923, Fax: 031-299-6942, Email: hkang@skku.edu

Received: October 19, 2016; Accepted: December 23, 2016. Published online: December 23, 2016.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:
This study investigated the association between the modifiable risk factors and spinal deformations in children.
METHODS:
Children (152 boys, 153 girls) were recruited to participate in the study. Physical activity level, sitting time, and posture were assessed with a questionnaire. Spinal parameters such as scoliosis angle (SA), pelvic oblique (PO), and pelvic torsion (PT) were measured with the Formetric 4D. Children were classified as uncrossed and cross-legged sitting groups according to postures, as sedentary, moderately-active, and highly-active groups according to physical activity levels, and as low, mid, and high groups according to sitting time. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of pelvic deformations.
RESULTS:
Children with cross-legged sitting posture had significantly higher values in SA and PO than children with uncrossed sitting posture. Significant differences in SA, PO, and PT were found between the activity-based subgroups and a significant difference in PT between the sitting time-based subgroups. Compared with uncrossed sitting children (reference, OR=1), cross-legged sitting children had a significantly risk (OR=3.153, 95% CI=1.707-5.822) of PO deformation. Compared with highly active children (reference, OR=1), sedentary children had a significantly higher risk (OR=4.115, 95% CI=1.496-11.321) of PO deformation. In addition, moderately-active and sedentary children had significantly higher risks (OR=3.987 and 95% CI=2.044-7.777 and OR=5.806 and 95% CI=2.675-12.601, respectively) of PT deformation as compared with highly-active children (reference, OR=1).
CONCLUSIONS:
The current findings suggest that crossed-legged sitting posture and decreased physical activity are two of modifiable risk factors for spinal deformations in children.

Key words: children; physical activity; sitting posture; pelvic deformation; spinal deformation