Abstract

Background. To date, no studies are available concerning the relationship between the shape of the spinal column and the level of mental retardation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the spinal column shape in children and adolescents with mild, moderate, and severe intellectual disability.Material and methods. 413 boys and girls aged eleven to thirteen were examined, including 204 persons with various levels of intellectual disability and 209 of their mentally healthy peers, who formed the control group. The Metrecom System, a computerised instrument for three-dimensional diagnostic studies of the musculoskeletal system, was used to examine the shape of the spinal column. 3-D anthropostereometric parameters obtained using the Metrecom System were used to de – scribe in detail and classify individual types of spinal column shape.Results. The intellectually disabled children and youth, in comparison to the healthy population, had much worse postures and an increased incidence of spinal column deformities. The degree of intellectual disability was correlated with the frequency and severity of spinal column deformities.Conclusions. Our results point to an urgent need to verify the current health care practice and improve health care policies, including appropriate methods of medical rehabilitation and corrective therapy of spinal column deformities that would account for the degree of intellectual disability.

Key words:

body posture, spinal column, intellectual disability, Metrecom System