Height body mass, and physical fitness in girls and boys with and without posture defects in the former province of Rzeszów, Poland

Krzysztof Kołodziej, Andrzej Kwolek, Krystyna Lewicka, Teresa Pop, Grzegorz Przysada

Krzysztof Kołodziej, Andrzej Kwolek, Krystyna Lewicka, Teresa Pop, Grzegorz Przysada – Height body mass, and physical fitness in girls and boys with and without posture defects in the former province of Rzeszów, Poland. Fizjoterapia Polska 2003; 3(2); 113-119

Abstract
Background. The purpose of our study was to evaluate differences in the growth and physical fitness of school-age children and youth, with and without posture defects, in the former voivodeship of Rzeszów, Poland Material and methods. The research involved 3117 children of both sexes, ranging in age from 7 to 14 years, enrolled in 44 primary schools during the period 1996-1997. The children were divided into two groups, those with posture defects and those without. The examinations were performed by visual (descriptive) inspection. Posteriorly, we evaluated the carriage of the head, shoulders, shoulder blades, and pelvis, and the type of feet (acc. to Bochenek); anteriorly – carriage of the shoulder line, waist triangles, and carriage of the knees; laterally – carriage of the head and shoulders and the curvature of the spine. A characterization of the particular posture defects will be the topic of a separate study. Results. The average height and body mass of boys and girls without defects are greater than in children with defects. In exercises to measure physical fitness, children without posture defects obtained better results than those with defects. Conclusions. The results confirmed the working hypothesis that there are differences in the growth and physical fitness of girls and boys with and without posture defects. In order to reduce differences in physical fitness between children and youth with and without posture defects, measures should be taken in the schools to prevent posture defects and detect them earlier; check-ups and correctional measures should be made available for children in school or in a Posture Defects Outpatient Clinic.

Key words:
morphological features (height and body mass), Physical Fitness, posture defects

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