Sławomir Snela

Effect of high-heeled shoes on the parameters of body posture.

Study Design. The study group consisted of 90 young, healthy females, aged 20 to 25 years. Three types of measurements were conducted for each female: without shoes, with 4-cm heels, and with 10-cm heels. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of high-heeled shoes on chosen parameters characterizing body posture. Summary of Background Data. For a long time, high-heeled shoes have been an attribute of femininity. Currently, there is an increasing amount of research being published investigating the effect of high-heeled shoes on selected biomechanical parameters. Methods. The study used a photogrammetric method, based on the chamber projection and Moiré phenomenon. The study was performed using predesignated points of anthropometric measures. We used 19 photogrammetric parameters characterizing body posture. Results. Results of the measurements showed no significant differences using the significance level P < 0.05 between the measurements taken with no shoes, with 4-cm high-heeled shoes, and with 10-cm high-heeled shoes. Statistically significant results were obtained only for the angle of trunk bend parameter. The value of the P coefficient in the Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance test for the angle of trunk bend parameter was P = 0.0140. Analysis based on the multiple comparison test indicated differences between the group wearing no shoes, and those wearing 4-cm heels (P = 0.0226), and between the group wearing no shoes and the group wearing 10-cm heels (P = 0.0459). Conclusion. High-heeled shoes increased the forward inclination of the trunk. This article shows that there are only certain trends for some parameters that require further scientific investigation. Level of Evidence: N/A

Effects of Carrying a Backpack in an Asymmetrical Manner on the Asymmetries of the Trunk and Parameters Defining Lateral Flexion of the Spine

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine changes in the body posture parameters defining asymmetry of the trunk and lateral flexion of the spine in children while carrying a backpack weighing 10% of a child’s weight. Background: Carrying a backpack may negatively affect the posture of schoolchildren and contribute to spinal pain. Method: The study involved 162 primary school students ages 11 to 13 years. The parameters describing body posture were assessed with a backpack carried on the right or left shoulder as well as without a load. To assess the predefined parameters, we used the CQ Elektronik System, employing the photogrammetric method. Results: Trunk inclination shifted significantly in the opposite direction to the shoulder the backpack was carried on, and an increase in shoulder asymmetry was also found. We also observed a more pronounced right-side lateral flexion of the spine when the backpack was carried on the right shoulder and an analogous relationship for the left side. Conclusion: The results of this study show that carrying a backpack in an asymmetrical manner negatively affects spine, even if the backpack weight constitutes 10% of the child’s weight, which has been previously recommended as a safe load for a child’s shoulders. Application: We suggest that the issue of safe backpack weight be reassessed and that students be taught basic ergonomic principles on how to carry loads. Changes to the management pattern of carrying textbooks to and from school also should be considered.

The influence of elongation exercises on the anterior-posterior spine curvatures.

Summary Introduction: Elongation exercises are designed to reduce existing pathological or increased physiological curvatures of the spine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes occurring in the parameters describing the anterior-posterior spinal curvatures during the performance of symmetric elongation exercises. Material and methods: The study included 150 children aged 7-10 years: 82 girls and 68 boys. It was performed in June 2012, following prior parental and the subjects’ consent. The study design was approved by the Bioethical Committee of the Medical Faculty of Rzeszow University (number 05/07/2012). In each subject, an examination of the body posture was performed twice - first in a relaxed position and second during an elongation exercise. The Wilcoxon pair sequence test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The lumbosacral angle was significantly higher during the performance of an elongation exercise (p < 0.001), and so was the thoracolumbar angle (p < 0.001). The angle of the upper thoracic spine (p < 0.01) was significantly reduced. In the case of parameters describing thoracic kyphosis, a significant increase was observed both for the thoracic kyphosis angle (p < 0.01) and the depth of this part of the spine. As for the parameters describing lumbar lordosis, both the lordosis angle and its depth were significantly reduced (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Conclusions: 1. Elongation exercises reduce the depth of lumbar lordosis. 2. During elongation exercises thoracic kyphosis becomes deeper

Changes in body posture of women and men over 60 years of age.

BACKGROUND With age, the body posture undergoes involutional changes. It is not possible to determine accurately the beginning of these changes. They begin between 40 and 50 years of age, and their slow progress increases after 60 years of age. The aim of this study was to assess the body posture of women and men over 60 years of age. MATERIAL AND METHOD Seventy people over 60 years old (35 women and 35 men) participated in the study. The control group consisted of 70 people (35 women and 35 men) between the age of 20 and 25. To evaluate the body posture non-invasive photogrammetric method based on the Moiré phenomenon has been used. The study was performed according to generally accepted principles. RESULTS Body posture of women and men over 60 years of age differs significantly in most of the parameters from body posture of women and men in the control group. These differences are confirmed when divided into groups based on gender. Comparing the parameters that characterize the posture of women and men over 60 years of age, a significant difference is only for parameter KLL, and body posture of men is characterized by the higher angle of lumbar lordosis (p = 0.0022). CONCLUSIONS 1. There are significant changes in body posture of women and men over 60 years of age both in the frontal and sagittal plane. 2. Men over 60 years of age have a significantly greater angle of lumbar lordosis. 3. The results of these studies should be used for the construction of a plan of exercises for the elderly taking into account all the changes that occur with age.

Effects of carrying a backpack in a symmetrical manner on the shape of the feet

The aim of this study was to assess changes in the shape of the feet while carrying a backpack constituting 10% of a childs weight. It was an observational, cross-sectional study involving 118 primary school children aged 11–13 years. Selected parameters of foot shape were assessed in both a normal position and with a backpack using podoscopy and a CQ-ST examination device. The study revealed significant differences in the length and width of the right and left feet between assessments. Moreover, the longitudinal arch of the foot was significantly lowered and deformity of the great toe was reported. Carrying a backpack constituting 10% of a childs weight results in lowering of the longitudinal and traverse arches of the feet and advanced toe deformities. Practitioner Summary: We performed an observational, cross-sectional study examining the effect of carrying a backpack constituting 10% of a childs weight on parameters of foot shape and observed significant lowering of the longitudinal and traverse arches of the feet and advanced toe deformities.

The development of anterior-posterior spinal curvature in children aged 7–12 years

Summary Study aim: Body posture changes depend on numerous factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the changes in posture in the sagittal plane of children aged 7–12 years. Material and methods: Postural changes were determined by assessing the postural parameters in the sagittal plane. The measurements were recorded in children attending selected primary schools. In total, 562 subjects were included in the study, including 278 boys and 284 girls. The body posture was assessed photogrammetrically based on the moiré effect, whereby 5 postural parameters were integrated within the measurement methodology. Results: The results indicated a naturalistic tendency in postural development – the postural parameters changed with age in a dynamic fashion; and the postural measurements for boys and girls differed in terms of their range. Conclusions: The study findings can be used for the accurate mapping of normal postural development and, inter alia, for the detection and diagnosis of an emerging abnormal posture. Importantly, a correct postural assessment algorithm for children should include the subject’s age and sex.

Evaluation of incidence frequency and analysis of risk factors for the occurrence of back pain in a randomly-chosen group in the Podkarpackie Region of south-eastern Poland

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of incidence and analysis of the risk factors for the occurrence of back pain (BP) in a group of professionally active inhabitants of the Podkarpackie Region of south-east Poland. MATERIALS AND METHOD The study was carried out with a method of social survey on a randomly selected group of 2,000 the inhabitants of the Podkarpackie Region, age: 30-50 years. In the study group, 71.5% people reported back pain, 61% of whom indicated the pain being located in the lumbar-sacral region. RESULTS It was shown that the chief factors increasing the frequency of occurrence of BP was the physical character of work connected with lifting heavy loads, as well as long-term work in one position with continual repetition of the same movements. The persons reporting BP were more frequently those who opted for passive forms of relaxation (p=0.0280), and the difference was significant. No significant relationship was found between body stature and the frequency of incidence of BP (p=0.6327). In the study group, there was no relationship found between the frequency of occurrence of spinal pain syndrome (SPS) and the living environment. CONCLUSIONS In the study group of the randomly selected working inhabitants of the Podkarpackie Region, it was shown that the frequency of incidence of back pain is on the same level as in the other regions of the country. In the study group, the living environment was found not to have any significant influence on the frequency of back pain.

Examination of the compatibility of the photogrammetric method with the phenomenon of mora projection in the evaluation of scoliosis.

Introduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the compatibility of external measurements of parameters characterizing scoliosis using the photogrammetric method. Material. The study involved 120 children between the ages of 7 and 11 years in Podkarpackie (Poland). Method. Measurements of body posture characteristics were performed using the photogrammetric method with mora projection. Each person was examined twice, once by two different therapists, with a time lapse of 20 minutes in between examinations. Results. High accuracy and no statistical significance were found among different measurements of asymmetry parameters characterizing the shoulder blades and hips. Regularities were also found in the characteristic measurements of curves of scoliosis. The POSTI parameter showed a significant variation and lack of compatibility of results. Conclusions. (1) The photogrammetric method used to assess the pathological changes caused by scoliosis gives significant results in terms of parameters characterizing the position of the shoulder blades and shoulders, as well as pelvis rotation. (2) High compliance measurements are also characterized by the length of the right and left arcs of scoliosis.

Ocena stanu funkcjonalnego pacjentów przed- i 6 miesięcy po wymianie stawu kolanowego

Introduction. Endoprosthetics is currently most common method of the treatment of advanced osteoarthritis, including knee joint osteoarthritis. Its main goal is to restore patients functional independence in activities of daily living through reducing pain and disability. Objective. The aim of this study was functional assessment of the patients after total knee replacement (TKR) considering subjects age and gender, BMI and mean duration of the