Comparison of body posture in children depending on the age of starting school education – a pilot study

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction. The aim of the study was to assess posture in children depending on the age of starting school education.Material and methods. A total of 64 students from classes I-II, including 22 six year olds and 42 seven year olds. The research material was divided into three groups: group I - first graders at the age of 6 years, group II - first graders at the age of 7 years, group III - second graders at the age of 7 years. Photogrammetric method was used for the analysis of posture in the sagittal plane.Results. The study showed that the 7-year-old children have greater deviations of the parameters in the sagittal plane than 6-year-old children. 7-year-old children in the second grade had a posture closer to 6-year-olds who have just started attending school than their equals in the first grade.Conclusions. Somatic analysis showed statistically significant differences in body weight between 6 and 7 year olds attending the first grade. Significant differences in the sagittal plane were shown in the angle of the lumbar-sacral segment, entire spine length, thoracic kyphosis length and lumbar lordosis angle.