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Is postural asymmetry associated with emotional stability in healthy subjects? A preliminary study

Sport Sciences for Health volume 13, pages 557–563 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Considering that musculo-skeletal system and nervous system reciprocally are connected by the presence of proprioceptors and interoceptors, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotional stability and posture.

Methods

We recruited 100 healthy volunteers (age 30.2 ± 9.8 years) who regularly practiced physical activity, and we evaluated posture (vertical line of Barrè) and emotional stability (a specific component of the Big Five Questionnaire—BFQ). Chi-square test was used to evaluate the distribution of the postural evaluation by sex. ANOVA with Bonferroni correction was used to evaluate the differences of the BFQ in the groups of Barrè (ascending, descending, mixed, and disharmonic). A multiple regression models was set to assess the factors related to gender, age, and posture. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

In 86 subjects, we found asymmetric posture expressed by malalignment of the Barrè line with respect to the median line. Control of Emotion did not differ between the different groups in Barrè assessment test (p = 0.07), but for Impulse Control, there were significant differences between mixed and descending and between mixed and neutral posture (p = 0.03). In emotional stability, we observed significant differences between mixed and descending and mixed and neutral (p = 0.02). The subjects who had greater control of emotions and impulses had a mixed or a descending-type posture of the vertical evaluation in the Barrè test (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Emotional stability was associated with postural adjustment, affecting, in particular, the cervical spine and legs. We could hypothesize that symmetrical posture is not necessarily related to psychological balance, while asymmetric posture may represent a sign of good control of emotions and impulses.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Brian John Molloy B.A. for language revision.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Orthopaedics Unit, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy

    Angela Notarnicola, Giuseppe Maccagnano & Biagio Moretti

  2. Course of Motor and Sports Sciences, Department of Medical Sciences of Basis, Neurosciences and Organs of Sense, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Study of Bari, Bari, Italy

    Angela Notarnicola, Antonio Monno, Nicola Fiorentino, Silvio Tafuri & Biagio Moretti

  3. Department of Medical Sciences, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences (SUISM), University of Turin, Corso Trento, 13, Turin, Italy

    Fabrizio Perroni

  4. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy

    Silvio Tafuri

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  1. Angela Notarnicola
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Correspondence to Fabrizio Perroni.

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Research was conducted ethically according to international standards.

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All subjects gave written informed consent to participate in this study.

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Notarnicola, A., Perroni, F., Maccagnano, G. et al. Is postural asymmetry associated with emotional stability in healthy subjects? A preliminary study. Sport Sci Health 13, 557–563 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0381-6

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