The Relationship Between Poor Upright Static Standing Posture and Musculoskeletal System Symptoms in Adults Admitted Ankara University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Family Medicine Polyclinics

Ayşe Çölgeçen

Keywords: Poor posture, Nordic, Musculskeletal system symtoms

Background:

If the center of gravity of the body deviates from the center of gravity axes of good posture, the risk of waist, neck and back pain increases.

Research questions:

Does poor posture increase musculoskeletal symptoms?

Method:

97 people, 44 females and 53 males, between the ages of 18-65, were included in the study. Participants filled in a questionnaire form questioning their socio-demographic characteristics and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Standing static posture analysis was performed observationally with the help of the posture analysis chart. Observation results were scored using the Bragg Posture Chart. Chi square/Fisher's Exact test was used to compare the findings.

Results:

The most common regions showing symptoms in the musculoskeletal system were the lower back, back, neck, knees and shoulders (58.8%, 45.4%, 41.2%, 40.2%, 35.1%, respectively). 16.5% of people did not experience any musculoskeletal symptoms in the last 1 year. The part of the body that most commonly caused limitation in daily activities due to symptoms was lower back (15.5%). In posture examination, poor posture was found mostly in the shoulder and hip regions (89.7%, 86.6%, respectively), and least in the lower back and trunk regions (6%, 6%). Poor posture was detected in 53.6% in the foot alignment 45% in the spine region and 37% in the neck region. 4.1% of all participants had a good (standard) posture in all body parts. Low back complaints were more common in those with poor foot posture (p = 0.005). Knee complaints were more frequent in patients with hip asymmetry (p = 0.01). No significant relationship was found between the presence of poor posture in other body parts and the presence of symptoms in the musculoskeletal system.

Conclusions:

Musculoskeletal disorders and postural defects are common in the community. Postural defects may cause an increase in musculoskeletal disorders.

Points for discussion:

Musculoskeletal symptoms and postural defects are common..

Postural defects may cause an increase in musculoskeletal disorders.

Our experience in postural assessment in primary care may be insufficient.

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