Effects of Feedback-Supported Online Training during the Coronavirus Lockdown on Posture in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

(1) Background. The coronavirus pandemic had a serious impact on the everyday life of children and young people with sometimes drastic effects on daily physical activity time that could have led to posture imbalances. The aim of the study was to examine whether a six-week, feedback-supported online training programme could improve posture parameters in young soccer players. (2) Methods. Data of 170 adolescent soccer players (age 15.6 ± 1.6 years) were analyzed. A total of 86 soccer players of a youth academy participated in an online training program that included eight exercises twice per week for 45 min (Zoom group). The participants’ exercise execution could be monitored and corrected via smartphone or laptop camera. Before and after the training intervention, participants’ posture was assessed using photographic analysis. The changes of relevant posture parameters (perpendicular positions of ear, shoulder and hips, pelvic tilt, trunk tilt and sacral angle) were statistically tested by robust mixed ANOVA using trimmed means. Postural parameters were also assessed post hoc at 8-week intervals in a control group of 84 participants of the same age. (3) Results. We found a statistically significant interaction (p < 0.05) between time and group for trunk tilt, head and shoulder protrusion and for hip anteversion in the Zoom group. No changes were found for these parameters in the control group. For pelvic tilt no significant changes were found. (4) Conclusions. Feedback-based online training with two 45 min sessions per week can improve postural parameters in adolescent soccer players over a period of six weeks.