The assessment of the body posture and motor abilities of 14-year-old boys and girls

Abstract

AbstractAim of the study: The purpose of this study was to assess the body posture parameters measured with the photogrammetric Moiré’s method, and motor abilities of 14-year-old boys and girls living in Kraków.Material and methods: The study group consisted of 273 children, including 140 girls and 133 boys, aged 14. Their height and body mass were measured. Their body posture was assessed using the Moiré’s method, as a result of which 14 parameters were described (6 parameters in plane median, 1 in plane transverse and 7 in plane coronal). Motor abilities were assessed using the test of marching balance as well as some trials being part of the battery test EUROFIT.Results: As far as the body posture, significant differences between the boys and the girls were observed in respect of five parameters assessed with the Moiré’s method thoracic kyphosis angle, elevation of the left inferior angle of scapulae, lowering of the left waist triangle, the difference in height of posterior superior iliac spines, the maximum leftwards deviation of the spine line from the line C7-S1. The statistically significant differences between the boys and the girls were pointed out in terms of the motor abilities with the components of strength, as well as suppleness and flexibility.Conclusions: Worse body posture of girls and boys aged 14 does not lead to a decrease in physical fitness, therefore it seems that it is necessary to increase the time of physical exercises for these children compared to their peers with better posture.