<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><italic>Study aim</italic>: To assess the presence of musculoskeletal deformities in lower extremities and to detect faulty posture in
schoolchildren living in a rural region of Iran.<italic>Material and methods:</italic> 172 schoolchildren aged 5-20 years, including 66 boys and 106 girls were screened deviations
in the musculoskeletal system. Furthermore, the postural muscles including the hamstring and gastroc-soleus were
examined for finding any shortness.<italic>Results</italic>: The prevalence of cervical lordosis (22.6% vs. 6.1%), forward head posture (24.1% vs. 9.1%) and thoracic
kyphosis (27.8 % vs. 7.6%) was significantly higher in girls than in boys. The prevalence of cervical lordosis, FHP,
thoracic kyphosis, and genu varum increased with age; in the case of genu valgum, the situation was reversed. Genu
varum was almost twice as frequent in girls as in boys (44.4% vs. 25.8%; p&lt;0.01), while the genu valgum was more
frequent (p&lt;0.001) in boys than in girls (13.6 and 2.8, respectively). No significant age or gender-dependent differences
were found for hamstring shortness (29%), gastroc-soleus shortness (21%), genu recurvatum (22%), and hallux
valgus (31%).<italic>Conclusions</italic>: Faulty posture and lower limb deformities were highly prevalent in school children in this rural region.
More attention should be paid to implementing school-based screening programs aimed at early detection of any
musculoskeletal-related abnormalities and taking preventive steps to reduce their negative consequences.</abstract>

Study aim: To assess the presence of musculoskeletal deformities in lower extremities and to detect faulty posture in
schoolchildren living in a rural region of Iran.Material and methods: 172 schoolchildren aged 5-20 years, including 66 boys and 106 girls were screened deviations
in the musculoskeletal system. Furthermore, the postural muscles including the hamstring and gastroc-soleus were
examined for finding any shortness.Results: The prevalence of cervical lordosis (22.6% vs. 6.1%), forward head posture (24.1% vs. 9.1%) and thoracic
kyphosis (27.8 % vs. 7.6%) was significantly higher in girls than in boys. The prevalence of cervical lordosis, FHP,
thoracic kyphosis, and genu varum increased with age; in the case of genu valgum, the situation was reversed. Genu
varum was almost twice as frequent in girls as in boys (44.4% vs. 25.8%; p<0.01), while the genu valgum was more
frequent (p<0.001) in boys than in girls (13.6 and 2.8, respectively). No significant age or gender-dependent differences
were found for hamstring shortness (29%), gastroc-soleus shortness (21%), genu recurvatum (22%), and hallux
valgus (31%).Conclusions: Faulty posture and lower limb deformities were highly prevalent in school children in this rural region.
More attention should be paid to implementing school-based screening programs aimed at early detection of any
musculoskeletal-related abnormalities and taking preventive steps to reduce their negative consequences.

Prevalence of faulty posture in children and youth from a rural region
in Iran

Physiotherapy Department, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation Department, Okan University, Tuzla Kampusu Istanbul, Turkey

Physiotherapy
Department, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Biomedical Human Kinetics

{"article-title":"Prevalence of faulty posture in children and youth from a rural region\nin Iran"}

Study aim: To assess the presence of musculoskeletal deformities in lower extremities and to detect faulty posture in
schoolchildren living in a rural region...

Prevalence of faulty posture in children and youth from a rural region in Iran

Published Online: Dec 28, 2012

Page range: 121 - 126

Received: Jul 06, 2012

Accepted: Nov 14, 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10101-012-0023-z

Keywords
Faulty Posture, Children, Visual assessment

This content is open access.