A comparison of the posture between young female handball players and non-training peers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare the posture in young female handball players and a group of non-training peers.


METHODS
125 handball players and 135 non-training individuals as a control group. All the subjects were aged 12-15. Measurements of basic somatic parameters (body height and mass, BMI, fat mass and total body water) were taken with an electronic balance 'Tanita'. The posture was evaluated using the moiré method. We analysed the shape of the spine in the sagittal plane and the position of the spine, pelvis and shoulder girdle in terms of symmetry.


RESULTS
In 13-year-old handball players there was a smaller inclination of the thoracolumbar segment and a greater forward tilt of the torso. Among the training 15-year-olds, the inclination of the lower back, the sum of angles of anteroposterior curvatures and the angle of lumbar lordosis were smaller than in their non-training peers. Moreover, a correct pelvic alignment in the frontal plane, and pelvis and scapulas asymmetries in the transverse plane were more common in handball players.


CONCLUSIONS
The formation of anteroposterior curvatures of the spine diversified some of the age groups of training and non-training young females. Handball training can affect the quality of posture.
Department of Recreation, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education Mikołowska Street 72a, 40-065 Katowice, Poland. Tel.: +48 32 207 5169; Fax: +48 32 207 5345; E-mail: m.grabara@awf.katowice.pl.
Małgorzata
M
Grabara
D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D013131:Spine / Q000502:physiology*
Posture; anteroposterior curvatures; asymmetries; female athletes; handball training