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Classification system of the sagittal standing alignment in young adolescent girls

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this cohort study was to classify sagittal standing alignment of pre-peak height velocity (pre-PHV) girls, and to evaluate whether identified subgroups were associated with measures of spinal pain. This study further aimed at drawing attention to similarities and differences between the current postural classification and a previous system determined among pre-PHV boys.

Methods

557 pre-PHV girls [mean age, 10.6 years (SD, 0.47 years)] participated in the study. Three gross body segment orientation parameters and five specific lumbopelvic characteristics were quantified during habitual standing. Postural subgroups were determined by cluster analysis. Logistic regression was applied to assess the relationship between postural subgroups and spinal pain measures (pain and seeking care, assessed by self-administered questionnaire). Chi-square statistics, independent samples T test, and distribution-based methods were used for comparison with postural categorization in pre-PHV boys.

Results and conclusion

Among pre-PHV girls, clinically meaningful posture clusters emerged both on the gross body segment and specific lumbopelvic level. The postural subtypes identified among pre-PHV girls closely corresponded to those previously described in pre-PHV boys, thereby allowing the use of the same, working nomenclature. In contrast to previous findings among pre-PHV boys, no associations between posture clusters and spinal pain measures were significant in girls at pre-PHV age. When comparing discrete ‘global’ alignment scores across corresponding posture types, some intriguing differences were found between genders which might involve different biomechanical loading patterns. Whether habitual posture forms a risk factor for developing spinal pain up to adulthood needs evaluation in prospective multifactorial follow-up research.

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Acknowledgments

We express our gratitude to Tom Barbe and Gizem İrem Güvendik for their assistance in data collection, and to all of the school teams, local pupil guidance centers and participants for their cooperation in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Artevelde University College, Ghent University, Campus Heymans (UZ, 3B3), De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Mieke Dolphens, Barbara Cagnie, Andry Vleeming, Guy Vanderstraeten & Lieven Danneels

  2. Department of Public Health and Research in Advanced Medical Informatics and Telematics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Business Complex Groeninghe (Building F), Zwijnaardsesteenweg 314, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Pascal Coorevits

  3. Department of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA

    Andry Vleeming

  4. Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Campus Heymans (UZ, 1P5), De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Guy Vanderstraeten

Authors
  1. Mieke Dolphens
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  2. Barbara Cagnie
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  3. Pascal Coorevits
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  4. Andry Vleeming
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  5. Guy Vanderstraeten
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  6. Lieven Danneels
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mieke Dolphens.

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Dolphens, M., Cagnie, B., Coorevits, P. et al. Classification system of the sagittal standing alignment in young adolescent girls. Eur Spine J 23, 216–225 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2952-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2952-9

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