Differences in spinal posture and mobility between children/adolescents with obesity and age-matched normal-weight individuals

The aim of this study was to cross-sectionally explore the association of obesity with spinal posture and mobility, commonly associated with musculoskeletal problems, by comparing the spinal parameters between 90 obese and 109 normal-weight children and adolescents. A non-invasive electromechanical device, the Idiag M360 (Idiag, Fehraltorf, Switzerland), was used to measure the spinal parameters. An age-and-sex-adjusted two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine postural and mobility differences between the two groups. Children and adolescents with obesity had significantly greater thoracic kyphosis [difference between groups (Delta) = 13.0(0), 95% CI 10.1(0)-15.8(0), p < 0.0001] and thoracic extension (Delta = 6.5(0), 95% CI 2.9(0)-11.6(0), p = 0.005), as well as smaller mobility in thoracic flexion (Delta = 5.0(0), 95% CI 1.2(0)-8.8(0), p = 0.01), thoracic lateral flexion (Delta = 17.7(0), 95% CI 11.6(0)-23.8(0), p < 0.0001), lumbar flexion (Delta = 12.1(0), 95% CI 8.7(0)-15.5(0), p < 0.0001), lumbar extension (Delta = 7.1(0), 95% CI 3.1(0)-12.2(0), p = 0.003) and lumbar lateral flexion (Delta = 9.1(0), 95% CI 5.5(0)-12.8(0), p < 0.0001) compared to the normal-weight children and adolescents. These findings provide important information about the characteristics of the spine in children and adolescents with obesity and unique insights into obesity-related mechanical challenges that the spine has to withstand and strategies designed to improve spinal mobility in this young population.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and spinal posture and mobility in children and adolescents. The results showed that obese individuals had greater thoracic kyphosis and extension, as well as decreased mobility in various spinal movements compared to normal-weight individuals.