PECULIARITIES OF CORRELATION PATTERNS BETWEEN MUSCULOSKELETAL AND DENTOALVEOLAR SYSTEM DISORDERS AND ELEVATED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN

Abstract

Introduction. The physical development and engagement in sports activities have a direct impact on the overall formation of the human body. Previous research on the impact of sports on orthopedic and dental conditions in children has primarily focused on factors and features related to injuries. While some studies have explored the influence of sports on orthopedic conditions, comprehensive research addressing orthopedic and stomatological pathology in connection with sports activities has been lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate the influence of physical activity on the status of both the locomotor and maxillofacial systems and to evaluate their correlation with fundamental anthropometric indicators. Materials and Methods. For this study, a cohort of 78 children (38 girls and 40 boys), aged 14 to 17 years with an average age of 15.5 years, underwent examinations in both 2019-2020 and 2023. A thorough statistical analysis of the gathered data was conducted to draw meaningful conclusions. Orthopedic pathology was observed in 37.21% of individuals engaged in sports and 22.86% of those who did not participate (p=0.263). Dental pathology was found in 23.26% of individuals involved in sports compared to 17.14% in those who did not engage in sports (p=0.581). Over a span of 3 years, individuals participating in sports experienced an average weight change of 14.82 kg, while those not involved in sports had an average change of 10.31 kg (p=0.02). The average height was 177.0 cm in individuals with orthopedic pathology and 170.0 cm in those without a diagnosed orthopedic condition (p=0.008). The mean growth over 3 years was 15.0 cm in individuals with orthopedic pathology and 9.0 cm in those without an established orthopedic diagnosis (p=0.032). Children with dental pathology gained an average of 8.34 kg of body weight over 3 years, whereas those without dental pathology gained 13.89 kg (p=0.019). Conclusions. Engaging in sports activities does not significantly impact the occurrence or development of orthopedic and stomatological pathology. Anthropometric indicators, specifically height and body weight, are associated with orthopedic and dental pathology, respectively. Children exhibiting greater and more intensive growth tend to have a higher frequency of orthopedic pathology. Dental pathology is more prevalent in children with lower body weight.