Posture and Biomechanics of the Spine of Children with Asthma
Asthma; Posture; Photogrammetry; Children.
Introduction: Obstructive conditions, such as asthma, can cause respiratory muscle overload due to excessive use of accessory muscles, resulting in functional impact and muscle length changes. Objective: Assess posture and biomechanics (range of motion and muscle strength) of the spine of children with asthma. Methods: This is an exploratory comparative study that evaluated children aged 7 to 12 years with a clinical diagnosis of asthma and healthy children, matched for age, sex, and height. Anthropometric, posture, range of motion, cervical and thoracolumbar muscle strength, spirometry, assessment of clinical control and asthma severity were performed. Results: The study consisted of 41 children with asthma and 21 healthy schoolchildren. There was no difference (p>0.05) in posture (sagittal head angle, cervical angle, shoulder angle and thoracic kyphosis) between groups. Variables, cervical spine extension range of motion and thoracolumbar spine extension range of motion were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The variables of posture of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine did not differ between children with asthma and healthy schoolchildren. Children with controlled/partially controlled and uncontrolled asthma have a lower range of motion of cervical spine extension when compared to healthy children and children with uncontrolled asthma have a lower range of motion of the thoracolumbar spine compared to children with controlled/partially controlled asthma and schoolchildren healthy.