Interrelationship between postural balance and body posture in children and adolescents.
Oliver Ludwig
PMID 28744036WHAT IT FOUND
In 308 children and adolescents, visible posture measures were not linked to standing balance sway.
Age and body mass index had weak links to sway. Posture treatment and balance training should be considered separately.
Key findings
01Posture parameters did not significantly correlate with sway path length, and the explained variance was practically zero.
02Age and BMI showed weak but significant correlations with sway path length.
03Age and BMI together explained only 5.2% of the variability in sway path length.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study excluded children with acute orthopedic or neurological problems and leg length differences exceeding 5 mm, so it does not speak directly to patients with those conditions. Balance was measured only as quiet standing sway for 20 seconds, so it may not reflect balance during daily activities. The posture measures were taken in the sagittal plane, so other posture deviations were not assessed. The study did not measure muscle strength, proprioception, or pain, so it cannot show how posture weakness affects function or symptoms. The sample came from a Kid-Check survey in Saarland, Germany, so it may not apply to other populations.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that posture weakness is unrelated to all balance demands. The study measured only quiet standing sway for 20 seconds, not balance during daily activities.