Assessment of Spinal Curvature in Isfahan University Students

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Exercise Physiology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan

2 Assistant Professor, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan

3 Community Medicine Specialist, Researcher, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan

4 General Practitionnaire, Health Center, University of Isfahan, Isfahan

5 School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan

Abstract

Background:
Spinal column is the main axis of the body and plays an important role in maitaining a proper posture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the rates of spinal abnormal curvatures in University of Isfahan students and the correlation of them with body mass index (BMI) and low back pain (LBP).

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 730 female and 718 male students of University of Isfahan (1448 cases), aged 18 to 24 years participated in a voluntary screening testing program between 2006 and 2008. First, age, antropometric measures and low back pain were measured with a standard clinical scale and Quebec back pain disability standard questionnaire, respectively. Then, spinal curvature and degree of lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis were measured using flexible ruler (non-invasive tools). During five subsequent semesters all participants were tested. Data were analyzed using t-test for independent means, χ2 and correlation coefficient.

Findings: The mean anthropometric measurements including the mean of hight, weight measurements, percentage of body fat, body mass index, and waist-hip ratio differed significantly between the groups for both men and women (P < 0.05). The mean angle of kyphosis and lordosis was
28.20 ± 12.78 and 29.07 ± 9.71 in women group and 31.87 ± 10.70 and 24.00 ± 10.50 in men group, respectively. The overall incidence and rate of degrees for kyphosis and lordosis differed significantly among the groups by gender (P < 0.05). No significant relationship was found between thoracic kyphosis and BMI among the groups by gender
(P > 0.05). However, a significant relationship was seen between lumbar lordosis and body mass index among the groups by gender (P < 0.05). There was significant differences in low back pain by gender in subjects with severe lordosis (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: The results showed that although the flexibility ruler has a relatively high corrilation with radiologic, it is a reliable and valid instrument and can effectively be used for measuring the spinal curvatures in screeing testing programs and many populations accordingly.

Kwy words: Spinal column, Thoracic kyphosis, Lumbar lordosis, Flexibility ruler, Youths
Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 27, Issue 102 - Serial Number 102
November and December 2010
Pages 762-776

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 November 2010
  • Revise Date:
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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