title: Sagittal standing posture and its association with spinal pain: a school-based epidemiological study of 1196 Flemish adolescents before age at peak height velocity.
abstract: METHODS
  Cross-sectional baseline data set on the sagittal standing posture of 1196 adolescents.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe and quantify common variations in the sagittal standing alignment in boys and girls who are in the same phase of growth and to explore the association between habitual standing posture and measures for spinal pain.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Data on postural characteristics and spinal pain measures in adolescence are sparse, especially when somatic and biological maturity status is to be considered. Our understanding of the relationship between standing posture in the sagittal plane and spinal pain is also deficient.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 639 boys (age [mean ± SD], 12.6 ± 0.54 yr) and 557 girls (10.6 ± 0.47 yr), with predicted years from peak height velocity (PHV) being 1.2 ± 0.71 and 1.2 ± 0.59 pre-PHV, respectively, were studied. Postural examination included the assessment of global alignment and local spinopelvic characteristics, using post hoc analyses of digital images and direct body measurements (palpation, digital inclinometry, and wheeled accelerometry). Spinal pain experience was assessed by questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A wide interindividual variation in sagittal posture characteristics was observed. Logistic regression analyses yielded global alignment parameters to be associated with low back pain (lifetime prevalence), neck pain (lifetime prevalence, 1-mo prevalence, and doctor visit), and thoracic spine pain (doctor visit) outcome measures. None of the included local spinopelvic parameters could be identified as an associated factor with measures of spinal pain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The orientation of gross body segments with respect to the gravity line seems superior to local spinopelvic features in terms of clinical importance, at least in the current pre-PHV cohort. Opportunities may exist for postural subgrouping strategies to begin with global alignment parameters in order to gain further insight into the relationship between sagittal alignment and the relative risk of developing spinal pain/seeking medical consultation for this pain.
authors: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Artevelde University College, Ghent, Belgium. mieke.dolphens@ugent.be
authors: Mieke
authors: M
authors: Dolphens
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Cagnie
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Coorevits
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Vanderstraeten
authors: Greet
authors: G
authors: Cardon
authors: Roseline
authors: R
authors: Dʼhooge
authors: Lieven
authors: L
authors: Danneels
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001416:Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012572:School Health Services; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013131:Spine / Q000254:growth & development*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires