Search

Purpose: To assess the repeatability, intra and interrater reproducibility of the DIPA-S eHealth© system for capturing and measuring clinical variables of scoliosis, including frontal trunk imbalance (FTI), sagittal trunk imbalance (STI), and angle of trunk rotation (ATR)., Methods: Patients were photographed using the DIPA-S eHealth Capture© mobile application by family members, physiotherapists, or surgeons. Three photos were taken in each position: standing in the frontal and sagittal planes and in the axial plane in forward bending position of the trunk. The photos were analyzed by three independent evaluators using the DIPA-S eHealth Analysis© software. For repeatability, each photo was analyzed twice consecutively by the three evaluators. For intrarater reproducibility, only one evaluator reanalyzed the first photo from each plane with a 5-day interval. For interrater reproducibility, the three evaluators analyzed the first photo from each plane. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were used (p < 0.05)., Results: The sample comprised 262 images (n = 30). Repeatability was excellent for all three evaluators in all three planes (ICC 0.94 to 1.00). Intrarater reproducibility was excellent in all three planes (ICC 0.88 to 0.99). Interrater analysis was excellent for the frontal and axial planes (ICC 0.98 and 0.93), respectively. However, it was weak in the sagittal plane ICC 0.32. The SEM ranged from 0.02 to 17.6 and MDC from 0.03 to 34.6., Conclusion: The DIPA-S eHealth© Capture and Analysis system demonstrates reproducibility for use in the clinical assessment of scoliosis through teleconsultations., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To develop a questionnaire for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients undergoing physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) and to evaluate its content validity, structural validity, and reliability., Methodology: Seven PSSE treatment experts checked the content validity of the Patient's Perception of Scoliosis-Specific Physiotherapy Questionnaire (Physio-IS). For each Physio-IS item, the content validity indexes must be ≥ 90%. Regarding structural validity and reliability 52 adolescents (ages 10-17) with AIS completed the questionnaire. Structural validity was assessed through exploratory factor analysis. Reliability was verified through internal consistency., Results: Physio-IS content was validated in three evaluation rounds, obtaining 100% expert agreement. About structural validity we identified four domains (cumulative explained variance = 68.2%): (1) specific knowledge (seven questions on understanding their scoliosis condition); (2) social repercussion (five questions about social relationship implications); (3) pain (two questions about scoliosis-associated pain); and (4) associated concern (apprehension/expectations regarding the future). The Physio-IS demonstrated very good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.76-0.92)., Conclusion: The Physio-IS is a valid and reliable tool for assessing AIS patients undergoing PSSE and helping physiotherapists identify aspects requiring more attention, thus facilitating intervention strategies, as knowing the patient's perception of their condition or treatment is fundamental to AIS treatment success.

Background: When performed in unfavorable conditions, work can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders and decrease in work ability., Objectives: To identify the differences between three groups of workers (professors, technicians and outsourced workers) as for the sociodemographic profile, work ability, prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, activity restrictions, and the correlation between the presence of musculoskeletal disorders and activity restrictions with each domain of the Work Ability Index., Methods: The sample consisted of 67 university workers assessed by a Sociodemographic Data Questionnaire, the Nordic Musculoskeletal Symptoms Questionnaire and the Work Ability Index. Descriptive statistics and Kendall's Tau correlation coefficient were used., Results: Professors presented more favorable sociodemographic and lifestyle aspects and higher work ability, while outsourced workers had less favorable sociodemographic and lifestyle aspects and lower work ability. The correlation between activity restrictions and work ability was found in only one domain of Work Ability Index among professors. Among outsourced workers were found correlations on presence of musculoskeletal disorders and activity restrictions with six domains of Work Ability Index. Technicians did not show significant correlation., Conclusions: Outsourced workers presented worse work ability and less favorable sociodemographic and lifestyle aspects among the workers in the study, requiring the maintenance and improvement of work ability in this population., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: None

With the enforcement of social distancing due to the pandemic, a need to conduct postural assessments through remote care arose. So, this study aimed to assess the intra- and inter-rater reproducibility of the Remote Static Posture Assessment (ARPE) protocol's Postural Checklist. The study involved 51 participants, with the postural assessment conducted by two researchers. For intra-rater reproducibility assessment, one rater administered the ARPE protocol twice, with an interval of 7-days between assessments (test-retest). A second independent rater assessed inter-rater reproducibility. Kappa statistics (k) and percentage agreement (%C) were used, with a significance level of 0.05. The intra-rater reproducibility analysis indicated high reliability, k values varied from 0.921 to 1.0, with %C ranging from 94% to 100% for all items on the ARPE protocol's Postural Checklist. Inter-rater reproducibility indicates reliability ranging from slight to good, k values exceeded 0.4 for the entire checklist, except for four items: waists in the frontal photograph (k = 0.353), scapulae in the rear photograph (k = 0.310), popliteal line of the knees in the rear photograph (k = 0.270), and foot posture in the rear photograph (k = 0.271). Nonetheless, %C surpassed 50% for all but the scapulae item (%C = 47%). The ARPE protocol's Postural Checklist is reproducible and can be administered by the same or different raters for static posture assessment. However, when used by distinct raters, the items waists (front of the frontal plane), scapulae, popliteal line of the knees, and feet (rear of the frontal plane) should not be considered., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Pilling et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Introduction: Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Adults (BackPEI-A) lags the most recent literature, as it does not assess issues related to activity increasingly present in the daily lives of people of all ages., Purpose: (1) to update the BackPEI-A by including four new questions regarding the use of mobile devices; (2) to present a new graphic design of the issues related to back and neck pain to facilitate understanding of the location of these pains; (3) to test the content validity and the reliability of the new questions; and (4) to identify whether the BackPEI-A version in online form has adequate reliability., Methods: The content validation by evaluation of eight experts, and the reliability of the new questions and of the online version were assessed. The new questions were translated to English. Content validation was assessed by the content validity index (CVI). Reliability was assessed using the agreement percentage (%C), the kappa statistic (k), and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). k > 0.4 and %C > 0.5 were assumed to include new questions., Results: The new questions showed good agreement among the experts, k > 0.4 and %C > 0.5. Both forms applied presented an average kappa of total sample ranging from moderate to good, and moderate ICC values, showing an adequate reliability., Conclusion: The updated BackPEI-A is valid and reliable and allows the identification of aspects related to back and neck pain, as well as possible risk factors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None, (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis, known main cause of non-traumatic neurological disability in adults, leads to changes in muscle strength, especially in the lower limbs. Assessing muscle strength in these patients is thus essential and can be achieved by the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST), commonly performed in person. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measured adopted, Brazilian physiotherapists turned to remote monitoring and assessment, supported by Resolution n° 516/2020, which required proving the reliability of tests. Given this scenario, this study sought to evaluate the intra- and inter-rater reliability of the Five Times Sit to Stand Test performed remotely and synchronously by multiple sclerosis patients., Methods: A sample of 33 individuals with relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (18 women and 15 men, mean age 43.7 ± 13.4 years) were remotely and synchronously by video call. Inter-rater reliability was evaluated by analyzing FTSST execution time, in seconds, timed by two different raters on the same video call. In turn, intra-rater reliability was assessed by analyzing the execution time recorded in two different video calls made by the same rater, within a 24-28-h interval. Descriptive and inferential data analysis were performed using SPSS 20.0 software. Means and standard deviation were calculated for descriptive statistic. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with a 0.05 significance level, standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated for inferential analysis., Results: Data analysis showed excellent ICC values and low SEM and MDC values regarding inter-rater reliability (ICC: 0.993 (0.986-0.996); p-value: <0.001; SEM: 0.6 s; MDC: 1.6 s) and intra-rater reliability (ICC: 0.962 (0.925-0.981); p-value: <0.001; SEM: 1.4 s; MDC: 3.8 s)., Conclusion: Based on these values, FTSST performed remotely and synchronously by relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis patients is reliable and can be used both by different raters, for assessment, or by the same rater, in pre- and post-test situations., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of this literature review was to identify knee alignment assessment methods using radiography in the sagittal and frontal planes and to identify normality values for classifying knee alignment using these methods., Methods: A systematic review with a meta-analysis was conducted. The eligibility criterion was studies that performed radiographic examinations to assess the knee alignment of adults without a history of hip or knee prosthesis surgery. The methodological qualities of the included studies were assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. A meta-analysis was performed to measure the normality values of knee alignment in the frontal plane., Results: The hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle was the measure most frequently used to assess knee alignment. Only a meta-analysis of HKA normality values was possible. Thereby, we found normality values of the HKA angle for the overall population, men, and women. The normality values of knee alignment for healthy adults that were found in this study were as follows: overall sample (male and female patients) HKA angle = -0.2° (-2.8° to 2.41°), male patient HKA angle = 0.77° (-2.91° to 7.94°), and female patient HKA angle = -0.67° (-5.32° to 3.98°)., Conclusion: This review identified the most common methods and expected values for knee alignment assessment methods using radiography in the sagittal and frontal planes. We suggest HKA angles ranging from -3° to 3° as the cutoff for classifying knee alignment in the frontal plane, in accordance with the normality limits found in the meta-analysis., (© 2022 by National University of Health Sciences.)

Risk factors associated with back pain vary in different countries. Given the lack of studies in Latin America, our study aimed to assess back pain and its associated factors for six years in Southern Brazilian school children. All children attending the fifth grade of Teutônia, Brazil, were invited to participate in the study. Only schoolchildren who did not report back pain were included in the first assessment. The schoolchildren completed the Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument (BackPEI) during three assessments (2011, 2014, and 2017). BackPEI assesses the presence of back pain and possible associated risk factors (postural, behavioral, and sociodemographic). Generalized estimated equations (GEE) were used to perform a Poisson regression model with robust variance for longitudinal analysis. After six years of follow-up, 75 schoolchildren completed all the assessments. The risk factors associated with back pain were spending more than six hours daily watching television, lifting objects from the ground adopting an inadequate posture, using another backpack type different from those with two straps, and carrying a backpack in an asymmetric way. These results are important in guiding the planning of public policies to minimize this public health problem.

The Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument (BackPEI) was created in 2013 to assess back pain and its risk factors in school children. However, it does not assess neck pain or the habits of mobile device usage, which are aspects that are often part of school children's lives. Therefore, we aimed to update the BackPEI questionnaire to include new questions assessing aspects related to neck pain and the use of mobile devices and to test the content validity and reliability of the new questions. The updated questionnaire was named Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument for Children and Adolescents (BackPEI-CA). The content was validated by eight experts using the content validity index (CVI). To assess reliability, the BackPEI-CA questionnaire was applied at two different times in 105 school children, and Cohen's kappa (k) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated. All aspects assessed regarding content validity had a CVI higher than 0.8. The new questions presented moderate and good kappa values and excellent ICC values. The updated version of BackPEI-CA can be used as a clinic tool for assessing the presence, frequency, and intensity of back and neck pain and their risk factors.

Background: Postural asymmetry is natural and expected during postural assessment. Besides, there are conditions that exacerbate the difference between right and left side views, such as Idiopathic Scoliosis (IS). However, the photogrammetric postural assessment on sagittal plane is usually performed using only one side view. This study aimed testing if there are differences between the right and the left-side views in photogrammetric postural assessment of adults on sagittal plane., Methods: Patients with and without scoliosis were assessed and were grouped into Control Group (CG) and Positive Adam's test Group (PAG) according to Adam's forward bending test. After screening, participants were assessed using the right and the left-side views according DIPA© protocol. Descriptive and inferential analysis were made using Paired t-Test and Independence Chi-square Test (χ 2 )., Results: Significant differences were found between right and left side views to knee angle and head position angle to overall sample. The mean difference was low, about 1° on head position and 2.6° on knee angle and did not affect the classification of body segments., Conclusion: We conclude that the postural assessment on sagittal plane of adults without IS can be performed using only one side view, becoming the photogrammetric postural assessment an easy-to-use tool., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Physical exercise improves physical fitness and health, helping to reduce pain and prevent low back pain. This study aims to compare the intensity of low back pain (LBP), behavioral habits, and the level of disability and kinesiophobia among exercising and non-exercising subjects with LBP., Methods: Consecutive sample of 102 individuals was divided into exercising group (EG) and non-exercising group (NEG). The data was extracted from the answers to the questionnaires Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument (BackPEI-A), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Fear-avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ-Brazil). For statistical analysis, the chi-square test was used, α ≤ 0.05., Results: Both groups presented predominance of mild to moderate pain intensity and absence of kinesiophobia in the practice of physical activity, with no statistically significant difference. However, there was significant difference between the groups for the risk of occurrence of LBP and for levels of incapacity and kinesiophobia related to work., Conclusion: Exercising individuals appear to present with a lower risk for occurrence of LBP, lower level of disability, and absence of work-related kinesiophobia., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Context: Sacroiliac dysfunction is characterized by a hypomobility of the range of motion of the joint, followed by a positional change regarding the relationship between the sacrum and the iliac. In general, the clinical tests that evaluate the sacroiliac joint (SIJ) and its dysfunctions lack validity and reliability values., Objectives: This article aims to evaluate the construct validity and intra- and inter-rater reliability of the standing flexion test (STFT) and sitting flexion test (SIFT)., Methods: In this prospective study, the sample consisted of 30 individuals of both sexes, and the evaluation team was composed of five researchers. The evaluations took place on two different days: first day, inter-rater reliability and construct validity; and second day, intra-rater reliability. The reference standard for the construct validity was 3-dimensional measurements obtained utilizing the BTS SMART-DX system. For statistical analysis, the percentage (%) agreement and the kappa statistic ( K ) were utilized., Results: The construct validity was determined for STFT (70% agreement; K =0.49; p<0.01) and SIFT (56.7% agreement; K =0.29; p<0.05). The intra-rater reliability was determined for STFT (66.3% agreement; K =0.43; p<0.01) and SIFT (56.7% agreement; K =0.38; p<0.01). The inter-rater reliability was determined for STFT (10% agreement; K =-0.02; p=0.825) and SIFT (13.3% agreement; K =0.01; p=0.836)., Conclusions: The STFT confirmed the construct validity and was reliable when applied by the same rater to healthy people, even if the rater had no experience. It was not possible to achieve minimum scores using the SIFT either for construct validity or reliability. We suggest that further studies be conducted to investigate the measurement properties of palpatory clinical tests for SIJ mobility, especially in symptomatic patients., (© 2021 Rafael P. Ribeiro et al., published by De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the validity and determine the accuracy of surface topography in relation to photogrammetry for measuring the thoracic kyphosis angle in patients with scoliosis., Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study of diagnostic accuracy that followed the guidelines recommended by the Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy. We consecutively included 51 participants aged 7 to 18 years. Exclusion criteria were surgical treatment of the spine, neurological disease, lower limb discrepancy greater than 1.5 cm, and body mass index above 29 kg/m². Each participant was evaluated using both a surface topography scan and photogrammetry in random order. The measurement obtained through photogrammetry was used as a reference in this study. For statistical purposes, Pearson's correlation test, Bland-Altman graphical analysis, and the receiver operating characteristic curve (P < .05) were performed., Results: The correlation between the measurements was strong and significant (r = 0.76, P < .001) with an average difference of 0.4° in the Bland-Altman analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve area was excellent for hypokyphosis (93.4%) and good for hyperkyphosis (86.4%), both being significant (P < .005)., Conclusion: The agreement and strong correlation between the 2 methods indicate the validity of surface topography to measure the thoracic kyphosis angle. The surface topography provides accurate measures for the thoracic kyphosis angle with cutoff points for hypo- (33.3°) and hyperkyphosis (40.8°) for individuals with scoliosis., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Introduction: Although the pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) is used for muscular assessment and training, there is little evidence of its reproducibility and repeatability., Objective: This study aims to assess intra- and inter-rater reproducibility and repeatability of the PBU in the assessment of the transverse abdominal (TrA), internal oblique (IO), low back multifidi, and deep neck flexors (DNF)., Methods: Fifty individuals had three muscular groups tested: TrA/IO, lower back multifidi, and DNF. For repeatability, one rater did three consecutive measures; for intra-rater reproducibility the same rater did two measures with seven-day intervals, and for inter-rater reproducibility, three raters, on the same day, did the measures. Data were analyzed with: Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC). (α = 0,05)., Results: Repeatability: TrA/IO (ICC = 0.847), Multifidi (ICC = 0.860), DNF (ICC = 0.831). Inter-rater reproducibility: TrA/IO (ICC = 0.876), Multifidi (ICC = 0.508), DNF (ICC = 0.442). Intra-rater reproducibility: TrA/IO (ICC = 0.747), Multifidi (ICC = 0.293), DNF (ICC = 0.685). Except for Multifidi, all the SEM values were less than 10 mmHg and the MDC values were less than 15 mmHg., Conclusions: The PBU can be used with reliability by different evaluators, although the evaluation of multifidi is not indicated., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The primary objective of this review was to investigate the reliability and validity of palpatory clinical tests of sacroiliac mobility. The secondary objective was to investigate which palpatory clinical tests of sacroiliac mobility exist in the literature., Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Medline, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database were searched. There was no restriction on the study design or participants. The data extracted from each study were sample size, study deign, and clinical test used. If there was information on reliability values, number of examiners, concurrent validity values, gold standard used, or inferential statistical test used, that was also extracted. For intraexaminer reliability, the data were expressed as κ values that were meta-analyzed using random effects., Results: Fifteen palpatory clinical tests of sacroiliac mobility were identified from 28 studies; 14 studies performed inferential statistical analysis, all including analysis of interexaminer reliability, with κ values ranging from -0.05 to 0.77. Analysis of intraexaminer reliability was performed in 8 studies, with κ values ranging from 0.08 to 0.73. No study included in this systematic review verified the concurrent validity of the tests. Our meta-analysis of intraexaminer reliability showed moderate to good agreement results for the Gillet test (κ = 0.46), the standing flexion test (κ = 0.61), and the sitting flexion test (κ = 0.68)., Conclusion: We found 15 palpatory clinical tests of sacroiliac mobility in this systematic review. According to our meta-analysis, only the sitting flexion test obtained a good and statistically significant intraexaminer agreement. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the reliability and validity of these tests., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: There are numerous radiography and photogrammetry-based methods of assessing the cervical spine posture in the sagittal plane. The choice of instrument should be based on scientific parameters such as validity and reliability, thus avoiding restrictions to the applicability of the instrument., Research Question: What radiography and photogrammetry-based methods used to assess the cervical spine posture in the sagittal plane are valid and/or reliable?, Methods: Systematic searches were conducted following Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. Methodological quality was assessed according to the Brink & Louw appraisal tool., Results: Twenty-one studies were included in the qualitative analysis. Twenty different methods of calculating cervical spine posture in the sagittal plane were found. Two studies included validation measures, 16 studies assessed inter-rater reliability, and 17 studies assessed intra-rater reliability. Fourteen studies were included for the quantitative analysis. The meta-analysis shows that the cervical arrow and cervical lordosis photogrammetry-based methods present very high intra-rater reliability. In radiography, the meta-analysis also showed that the Cobb method (inferior C2 - inferior C7), Cobb method (middle C1 - inferior C7), absolute rotation angle, and Gore angle (C2-C7) present very high inter-rater reliability, and the Cobb method (inferior C2 - inferior C7) and absolute rotation angle present very high intra-rater reliability., Significance: This systematic review presents an overview of the methods used to assess cervical spine posture and the respective information on validity and reliability. This panorama facilitates the choice of method when conducting radiography or photogrammetry-based assessment of the cervical spine in the sagittal plane. In addition, it shows the need for new studies that investigate the accuracy and precision of these methods for their possible use in larger studies., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Owing to the lack of longitudinal studies in Latin American countries, we aimed to evaluate back pain and its risk factors in a 3-year longitudinal study of Brazilian adolescents. We analysed data of 525 adolescents (aged 11-16 years) attending primary school (fifth to eighth grade) in Brazil. The students were administered the self-reported Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument (BackPEI) questionnaire in 2011 and at a follow-up evaluation that was conducted 3 years later (2014). Back pain was the outcome variable; the exposure variables included exercise, behavioural, hereditary and postural factors. Generalized estimating equations were used to perform a Poisson regression model with robust variance to evaluate the risk factors for back pain. The prevalence of back pain at baseline was 56% ( n  = 294); this increased significantly at the 3-year follow-up evaluation to 65.9% ( n  = 346). The frequency of experiencing back pain also significantly increased after 3 years in both boys ( p  = 0.002) and girls ( p  = 0.001). The prevalence of back pain increased significantly in adolescents up to the age of 13 years, stabilized in those aged 14 years and older and was higher among girls. A family history of back pain (in the parents), watching television for lengthy periods and carrying a backpack asymmetrically were predictors for back pain., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article., (© The British Pain Society 2019.)

Objective: Advances in mobile technology have led to the development of smartphones, whose applications present numerous utilities, such as the analysis of human movement based on inertial sensors. The purpose of this review was to investigate validity and reliability of smartphones in assessing the kinematics of the human spine., Methods: A systematic search was performed on MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and LILACS databases, as well as manual searches. The included studies evaluated psychometric properties of smartphones in assessing kinematic variables of the spine (range of motion [ROM], speed, and acceleration). Two independent reviewers performed the selection, reading, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment of the studies., Results: Of the 2651 articles initially found, 9 were included and had their results for ROM analyzed. The meta-analyses for validity showed very high correlation coefficients in the evaluation of cervical flexion, extension, and lateral flexion; high ones in the evaluation of cervical rotation; and also high ones for intrarater and interrater reproducibility of all cervical movements. The meta-analyses for interrater reproducibility showed high correlation coefficients in the evaluation of lumbar flexion and very high ones for intrarater reproducibility., Conclusion: The use of smartphones for assessing the ROM of cervical flexion, extension, and lateral flexion and lumbar flexion is feasible. Their use for assessing thoracic rotation is potentially viable, but further validation studies are still needed to ensure a safe use. There is a lack of validation studies that evaluate the applicability of this device in assessing other kinematic characteristics, such as speed and acceleration., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Pain is a public health problem with negative impact on quality of life., Objective: To analyze the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and associated occupational factors among Pilates instructors, and to compare their quality of life relative to Brazilian reference values., Method: A total of 166 Pilates instructors from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (consecutive sampling) with degrees in physical education or physical therapy responded the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey and Work-related Habits Questionnaire. Statistical analysis included calculation of prevalence ratios (Poisson regression) and the simple t-test., Results: About 62% and 63.3% of the participants reported neck and low back pain, respectively. The prevalence of neck (19%) and low back (16%) pain was higher among the participants who reported to feel always stressed regarding psychological pressure. The prevalence of neck pain was 25% higher among the participants who reported to feel always stressed regarding decision making. The prevalence of neck (15%) and low back (13%) pain was higher among the participants who reported not to perform physical activity. The prevalence of low back pain was 26%, 17% and 24% higher among the participants who reported to always perform physical effort, work standing and use computers, respectively. The scores on seven quality of life domains differed significantly between Pilates instructors and the national average., Conclusion: Psychological pressure and sedentary lifestyle were associated with neck and low back pain. Physical effort, work standing and computer use were associated with low back pain, and occupational stress with neck pain. Pilates instructors scored lower on seven quality of life domains, the exception being physical functioning.

Objective: To analyze the concurrent validity of the Digital Image-based Postural Assessment (DIPA) method for identifying the magnitude and classification of thoracic kyphosis in adults., Methodology: On the same day and in the same place, thoracic kyphosis was assessed in 68 adults using 2 methods: the DIPA software protocol and radiography. The DIPA software provided angular values of thoracic kyphosis based on trigonometric relations, while with the radiograph, the curvature was calculated using the Cobb method. The following tests were applied in the statistical analysis: Pearson's correlation, Bland-Altman's graphic representation, root mean square error, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve; α = 0.05. The reference angular values for the standard thoracic posture used in DIPA were determined with the ROC curve based on the Cobb angles., Results: The correlation between the angles obtained for thoracic kyphosis using the DIPA and Cobb methods was found to be high (r = 0.813, P < .001), and the accuracy was ±4°. According to Bland-Altman's representation, the magnitudes provided by the DIPA software were in agreement with those of the Cobb method. In reference values for determining the standard posture of the thoracic spine, the ROC curve indicated good accuracy in diagnosing a decrease in thoracic kyphosis (with a value of 33.9°) and excellent accuracy in diagnosing thoracic hyperkyphosis (with a value 39.9°) when using DIPA., Conclusion: The DIPA postural assessment method is valid in the sagittal plane for identifying the magnitude of thoracic kyphosis in adults. Furthermore, it is accurate in diagnosing alterations in thoracic kyphosis., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate the photogrammetric measurement of the angle of trunk rotation in relation to the scoliometer instrument., Methods: Fifty-eight prominences from individuals with ages between 7 and 18 and with suspicion of spinal asymmetry (SA) were evaluated through the scoliometer and photogrammetry. The photographs were analyzed in the Digital Image-based Postural Assessment software. For statistical purposes, we used Pearson's correlation test (r), root mean square error, Bland-Altman graphical analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curve. The level of significance was P ≤ .05., Results: Excellent correlation for the angle of trunk rotation was obtained between the scoliometer and photogrammetry, with a root mean square error of 3°. The Bland-Altman graphical analysis showed equally dispersed data with no participants outside the limits of agreement. The receiver operating characteristic curve evidenced that (1) the cutoff point for the identification of the presence of spinal asymmetry is 4°; (2) mild to moderate SA is between 4° and 7°; (3) moderate to severe SA is above 8°; and (4) sensitivity and specificity were above 83% and 78%, respectively, with an area under the curve ≥ 90%., Conclusion: Photogrammetry is validated for measuring the angle of trunk rotation, being an accurate and accessible tool for the evaluation of patients with spinal asymmetries., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: This prospective study aimed to assess the concurrent validity and diagnostic accuracy of a mathematical procedure for measurement of the spinal inclination angle, analogous to the Cobb angle, by means of photogrammetry., Methods: Sixty-one subjects (aged 7 to 18 years), male and female, underwent radiographic (Cobb angle) and photogrammetric (DIPA [Digital Image-based Postural Assessment] angle) evaluations. The measurement of spinal inclination angle obtained through photogrammetry followed the Digital Image-Based Postural Assessment software protocol. Concurrent validity was appraised using Spearman rank correlation, the coefficient of determination, the root-mean-square error, Bland-Altman plot analysis, and receiver operating characteristic analysis, adopting P ≤ .05., Results: The analyses were divided according to the topography of the scoliotic curve (thoracic, lumbar, or thoracolumbar). The correlations were excellent (from 0.72 to 0.81) and significant for all the regions of the spine, and the coefficients of determination ranged between 0.75 and 0.88. The root-mean-square error was between 5° and 11°, and the mean difference was very close to 0. The area under the curve was excellent and significant, ranging between 95% and 99%., Conclusion: The mathematical procedure presented is valid to evaluate the spinal inclination angle in photogrammetry, analogous to the Cobb angle in radiography., (© 2020 by National University of Health Sciences.)

Objective: The purpose of this review was to identify different kinematic characteristics between the movements of sit-to-stand-to-sit, sit-to-stand, or stand-to-sit of individuals with and without low back pain (LBP)., Methods: A systematic search was conducted on scientific databases. The analyzed kinematic variables were duration of the movement, reproduction of the movement, ranges of motion, velocity, and acceleration. The studies were appraised for methodological quality using the Downs & Black scale and for the level of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach., Results: After all screening stages, this systematic review comprised 8 cross-sectional studies. When comparing the patients with LBP vs controls, patients with LBP take longer to perform the sit-to-stand-to-sit, sit-to-stand, and stand-to sit movements (eg, 9.33 ± 1.49 seconds vs 8.29 ± 1.23 seconds in the sit-to-stand-to-sit movement), show decreased mobility of the lumbar spine (eg, 26.21° ± 8.76° vs 32.07° ± 6.77° in the sit-to-stand-to-sit movement) and the hip (eg, 51.0° vs 77.25° in the sit-to-stand movement), present decreased velocity of the trunk (eg, 95.31° ± 25.13°/s vs 138.23° ± 23.42°/s in the sit-to-stand-to-sit movement) and the hip (eg, 46° ± 13°/s vs 69° ± 13°/s in the sit-to-stand movement), and decreased overall acceleration of the trunk (eg, 280.19° ± 113.08°/s 2 vs 460.16° ± 101.49°/s 2 in the sit-to-stand-to-sit movement), besides presenting greater variability of the trunk (eg, 5.53° ± 0.48° vs 4.32° ± 0.46° in the sit-to-stand movement)., Conclusion: There are kinematic alterations in the lumbar spine, the hip, and the trunk of patients with LBP. However, information about pelvic and overall trunk mobility, velocity, and acceleration of the lumbar spine; and mobility, speed, and acceleration of hip and pelvis remain incipient in individuals with LBP. Based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria, the results of this review indicate that there is low scientific evidence on the characteristics of the kinematic variables (duration of the movement, reproduction of the movement, range of motion, velocity, and acceleration) of the trunk, lumbar spine, pelvis, and hip in patients with LBP., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: This study aimed to examine the reliability of postural variables analyzed by photogrammetry obtained at different instances on the same day and between 2 different days., Methods: A sample composed of 24 healthy adult individuals of both sexes was submitted to photogrammetric postural assessment. From 35 seconds of filming, 7 photographs (of time instance at 0 second, 05 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 25 seconds, and 30 seconds) were extracted and digitalized on digital image-based postural assessment software. One factor repeated-measures analysis of variance quantified the alterations in the magnitude of the variables within and between sessions (factor time and factor day, respectively). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated to verify the repeatability and reproducibility., Results: The repeatability shows that postural variables did not present significant differences in the comparison among the 7 instances; all the variables had excellent and significant ICCs, and SEM and MDC values indicated measurement errors lower than 5%. The intrarater reproducibility shows that postural variables did not present significant differences between 2 days of evaluation; most of the variables had excellent and significant ICCs, and SEM and MDC values were between 0.9% and 12.5%., Conclusion: The results for repeatability and reproducibility show that most of the variables have excellent and significant ICCs. Postural evaluation by photogrammetry can be performed at any time within a 30-second interval counting from the positioning of the participant for assessment. Therefore, we conclude that a single photograph can represent the static posture of an individual in the postural evaluation, which is reliable enough and useful to determine the effects of an intervention either in clinical practice or in research., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Surface topography is a radiation-free examination that provides relevant information for the evaluation of patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). However, its usage is not standardized, which restricts the applicability of this instrument., Research Questions: (a) To identify the anatomical reference markers used on surface topography; (b) to identify the parameters used on surface topography; and (c) to pool correlation and reproducibility results., Methods: Systematic searches were conducted following MOOSE (Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines. The methodological quality was assessed according to Brink & Louw appraisal tool., Results: Twenty-three studies were included for the qualitative synthesis. The most commonly used anatomical reference markers were: the prominent vertebra (C7 or T1), the posterior superior iliac spines (PSISs) and the sacrum (S1). The parameters for the evaluation of the AIS by surface topography are: spinal inclination angle (analogous to Cobb), gibbosity, thoracic kyphosis angle, lumbar lordosis angle, pelvic obliquity, spine length, apex of the curve, C7-S1 distance (frontal plane), and C7-S1 displacement (sagittal plane). Data from eleven studies were metanalyzed and evidenced the correlation of the surface topography with X-ray exams and the reproducibility of the surface topography in the sagittal and frontal planes., Significance: The findings of this study recommend the use of a protocol for the application of the equipment. The analyzed studies predict the use of only four markers for anatomical reference. The evaluation of the AIS can be carried out observing nine parameters. Surface topography correlates with radiography when the spinal inclination angle (Cobb angle), thoracic kyphosis angle and lumbar lordosis angle are compared. Also, surface topography presents inter and intra-rater reproducibility in the sagittal plane and intra-rater reproducibility in the frontal plane., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The MADAAMI (Método de Avaliação Dinâmica do Alinhamento Articular dos Membros Inferiores-Dynamic Evaluation Method of Lower Limb Joint Alignment) is an instrument that has been developed and validated with the aim of providing direct, simple, and practical support for the identification of compensations and misalignments of joints. The first version of the instrument had some limitations. The goals of the present study are to update the instrument (MADAAMI-II), evaluate its content validity, and verify inter-rater and intra-rater reproducibility during the execution of demi-plié, grand plié, and fondu in two turnout positions of classical ballet (120° and self-reported) and in parallel foot position. The study was approved by the local university's Ethics Committee, and 20 ballet dancers from different levels of the Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil participated. Each dancer was digitally recorded executing the three steps in the different foot positions. To verify inter-rater reproducibility, three independent raters used the MADAAMI-II's score sheet. To verify intra-rater reproducibility, a single rater repeated the evaluation after a 7-day interval. Cohen's Kappa Coefficient (α = 0.05) was used. The results showed kappa values ranging from 0.062 to 0.357 in the inter-rater reproducibility analysis and from 0.431 to 0.806 in the intra-rater reproducibility analysis. We concluded that MADAAMI-II is, due to its practicality, valid, reproducible, and suitable for use by the same rater engaged in the classical ballet teaching-training process.

Background: The BackPEI questionnaire was developed and validated just exclusively to evaluate children., Aims: To propose, validate, and test the reproducibility of an expanded version of the Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument (BackPEI), originally designed to assess back pain in school-aged children, for use with adults., Design: Validation Study., Methods: Five questions from the original BackPEI were replaced, resulting in the revised instrument (BackPEI-A) containing 20 questions. Three experts checked the content validity of the revised instrument, and the reproducibility was tested by trialing the questionnaire with 154 adults., Results: The reproducibility data for the questions regarding pain intensity, analyzed using the Wilcoxon test and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), indicated that (a) there was no difference between the medians and (b) the answers were highly correlated, both for lower back (p = .574) (ICC = 0.908) and cervical (p = .968) (ICC = 0.865) pain. The reproducibility data for the remaining questions analyzed using the κ coefficient were classified as moderate (0.4 < κ ≤ 0.6) or very good (κ > 0.8)., Conclusion: The BackPEI-A is a reproducible, valid, and reliable instrument for use in the evaluation of back and neck pain and their associated risk factors. The instrument also facilitates the evaluation of postural habits in activities of daily living in adults., (Copyright © 2017 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Studies conducted with prehospital urgent care workers investigated work-related stress and its repercussions on the workers' mental and physical health., Objective: To identify risk factors for development of work-related cardiovascular (CVD) and musculoskeletal (MSD) diseases among prehospital emergency care workers., Methods: We conducted a systematic search on databases PubMed, EBSCO, EMBASE and Science Direct. The inclusion criteria were: risk factors for CVD and MSD among prehospital emergency care workers., Results: From 370 articles, 11 were included for review. The included studies identified risk factors for CVD, such as body mass index and sedentary lifestyle, however, with limited level of evidence. For MSD, age and working as first responder were shown to behave as risk factors, with high level of evidence. We were not able to determine the cardiovascular risk factors due to lack of studies that analyzed this aspect., Conclusion: The most evident musculoskeletal risk factors reported in the literature are age and working as first responder. Registration PROSPERO: CRD42016042390.

There is a paucity of information regarding the development of body posture during adolescence. This three-year prospective study aimed to evaluate sitting and sleeping postures among adolescents, and to determine whether these postures are associated with age and sex. We assessed 525 adolescents aged 11-16 years from the fifth to eighth grades. These adolescents were reassessed three years later. The Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument was used to evaluate the sleeping posture and three sitting positions: sitting to write, to use a computer, and during leisure activities. Our findings indicated a low prevalence of adequate sleeping and sitting postures at baseline, with a decrease in prevalence observed after three years for all postures. These changes were similar for both sexes. Moreover, we found a strong reduction of adequate posture prevalence for younger adolescents, but the oldest adolescents demonstrated no significant differences after three years. Early, rather than late, adolescence is a critical period for establishing inadequate sitting and sleeping postures. This has implications for posture throughout adulthood; hence, interventions targeted at this age group are needed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop, assess the reliability of, and validate prediction equations that estimate the sagittal curves of the spine from the skin surface., Methods: Forty digital panoramic radiographs were used to develop the prediction equation, and 59 radiographs were used to assess reliability and validate the equations. For evaluation of the thoracic and lumbar curves, anatomical reference points were marked on the vertebral body, spinous process, and skin surface at the C6, C7, T2, T4, T6, T8, T10, T12, L2, L4, and S2 vertebrae. Three third-degree polynomials were obtained, estimated with the least squares method: inner curves from the centroid of the vertebral bodies and from the apex of the spinous processes and external curve from the skin surface. The magnitude of the curves of each region was estimated based on the angle between tangent lines at several vertebral levels. Prediction equations were obtained (simple linear regression) for the vertebral levels that had the best correlation between the inner and surface curves. The validation of the prediction equations was confirmed using Pearson's correlation (r), Student t test, and root mean square error. The reliability of the method was confirmed using the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change (α = 0.05)., Results: The best correlations were obtained between the T4-T12 (thoracic) and T10-S2 (lumbar) levels (r > 0.85). For the intrarater and interrater reliability, the correlation was higher than 0.965 and higher than 0.896, respectively. There was a significant and strong correlation between estimated and actual values for the thoracic and lumbar curves, which was confirmed by the t-test results and by the root mean square error inferior to 1°., Conclusion: Prediction equations can precisely and accurately estimate the angles of the internal sagittal curves of the spine from the skin surface., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess a radiographic method for spinal curvature evaluation in children, based on spinous processes, and identify its normality limits., Methods: The sample consisted of 90 radiographic examinations of the spines of children in the sagittal plane. Thoracic and lumbar curvatures were evaluated using angular (apex angle [AA]) and linear (sagittal arrow [SA]) measurements based on the spinous processes. The same curvatures were also evaluated using the Cobb angle (CA) method, which is considered the gold standard. For concurrent validity (AA vs CA), Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, root-mean-square error, Pitman- Morgan test, and Bland-Altman analysis were used. For reproducibility (AA, SA, and CA), the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change measurements were used., Results: A significant correlation was found between CA and AA measurements, as was a low root-mean-square error. The mean difference between the measurements was 0° for thoracic and lumbar curvatures, and the mean standard deviations of the differences were ±5.9° and 6.9°, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficients of AA and SA were similar to or higher than the gold standard (CA). The standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change of the AA were always lower than the CA., Conclusion: This study determined the concurrent validity, as well as intra- and interrater reproducibility, of the radiographic measurements of kyphosis and lordosis in children., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure the validity and reliability of flexicurve measurements of cervical curvature in the sagittal plane in adults., Methods: One hundred thirteen adults were assessed in the seated position with flexicurve radiographs. Two groups were measured: (1) the validity group (n = 55), and (2) the reliability group (n = 58). Both groups were subdivided into 3 subgroups according to body mass index: underweight, normal weight, and overweight. Radiographs were simultaneously taken with flexicurve molded on the cervical spine. Pearson's correlation and the root mean square error were used for the concurrent validity. The reliability of the flexicurve was assessed by 3 raters using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the standard error of the measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC)., Results: For the concurrent validity, a high correlation (r = 0.570, P < .001, root mean square error = 9.8°), and excellent results were obtained for intra-rater (ICC = 0.771, P < .001, SEM = 4.4°, MDC = 8.6°) and inter-rater (ICC = 0.775, P < .001, SEM = 4.3°, MDC = 8.5°) reliability. The subgroups had different results, whereas the underweight subgroup consistently had the best results., Conclusion: These findings suggest that the flexicurve can be a valid instrument for evaluating the curvature of the cervical spine in the sagittal plane in adults classified according to the body mass index as underweight and normal weight. Reliable measurements were provided for its use whether by the same or different raters. The flexicurve can be recommended for use both in clinical practice and in research settings as long as the suggested protocol is followed., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To assess the short- and medium-term effects of the posture education program (PEP) for students of elementary school regarding theoretical knowledge and posture during activities of daily living (ADLs)., Methods: The sample consisted of 38 students (aged 8-12 years) in the third grade of elementary school in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul (Southern Brazil). The children were evaluated in three moments: prior to attending the PEP (pretest); after attending the PEP (post-test); and five months after the conclusion of the PEP, immediately after a learning review of four lessons (five months follow-up). The posture during ADLs and the theoretical knowledge about spine and body posture were assessed, based on specific instruments (layout for assessing the dynamic posture - LADy; and questionnaire). The Friedman test, post hoc Wilcoxon test, and Bonferroni correction were applied to identify the differences among the evaluative moments, as they are statistically significant at α<0.05., Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the post-test and follow-up concerning the theoretical knowledge. In addition, no statistically significant difference was found between post-test and follow-up in relation to ADLs; however, the performance of students was higher in the post-test and follow-up, when compared with the pretest., Conclusions: Immediately after the PEP's conclusion, the students improved their posture in ADLs. These positive effects and the theoretical knowledge were retained in the follow-up (after the review lessons).

Purpose: To determine the psychometric properties of the layout for assessing dynamic posture (LADy)., Methods: The study was divided into 2 phases: (1) development of the instrument and (2) determination of validity and reproducibility. The LADy was designed to evaluate the position adopted in 9 dynamic postures., Results: The results confirmed the validity and reproducibility of the instrument. From a total of 51 criteria assessing 9 postures, 1 was rejected. The reproducibility for each of the criteria was classified as moderate to excellent., Conclusions: The LADy constitutes a valid and reproducible instrument for the evaluation of dynamic postures in children 11 to 17 years old. It is low cost and applicable in the school environment.

[Purpose] Primary care is considered the gateway to the Brazilian public health system and is responsible for managing the most prevalent problems in the population. In this study, the effects of Back School on pain, functionality, and the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) in users with chronic musculoskeletal pain were evaluated. [Subjects and Methods] Forty-four users (33 females and 11 males) participated in Back School, with five two-hour theoretical and practical meetings held once a week. The assessment instruments used were as follows: (a) a circuit evaluation of posture dynamics recorded on video, (b) an observational instrument of ADL using video, (c) anamnesis, (d) the visual analogue scale, and (e) the Oswestry Disability Index. [Results] The results showed decreased pain intensity, improved functionality, and the recovery of ADL. [Conclusion] The Back School program is an effective health education strategy for users with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of back pain among Brazilian school children and the factors associated with this pain., Methods: All 1,720 schoolchildren from the fifth to the eight grade attending schools from the city of Teutonia, RS, Southern Brazil, were invited to participate in the study. From these, 1,597 children participated. We applied the Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument. The dependent variable was back pain, while the independent one were demographic, socioeconomic, behavior and heredity data. The prevalence ratio was estimated by multivariate analysis using the Poisson regression model (α = 0.05)., Results: The prevalence of back pain in the last three months was 55.7% (n = 802). The multivariate analysis showed that back pain is associated with the variables: sex, parents with back pain, weekly frequency of physical activity, daily time spent watching television, studying in bed, sitting posture to write and use the computer, and way of carrying the backpack., Conclusions: The prevalence of back pain in schoolchildren is high and it is associated with demographic, behavior and heredity aspects.

Aim: To evaluate the use of photogrammetry and identify the mathematical procedures applied when evaluating spinal posture., Methods: A systematic search using keywords was conducted in the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Science and Medicine(®) databases. The following inclusion criteria adopted were: (1) the use of photogrammetry as a method to evaluate spinal posture; (2) evaluations of spinal curvature in the sagittal and/or frontal plane; (3) studies published within the last three decades; and (4) written entirely in English. The exclusion criteria were: (1) studies which objective involved the verification of some aspect of validation of instruments; (2) studies published as abstracts and those published in scientific events; and (3) studies using evaluation of the anteriorization of the head to determine the angular positioning of the cervical spine. The articles in this review were included and evaluated for their methodological quality, based on the Downs and Black scale, by two independent reviewers., Results: Initially, 1758 articles were found, 76 of which were included upon reading the full texts and 29 were included in accordance with the predetermined criteria. In addition, after analyzing the references in those articles, a further six articles were selected, so that 35 articles were included in this review. This systematic review revealed that the photogrammetry has been using in observational studies. Furthermore, it was also found that, although the data collection methodologies are similar across the studies, in relation to aspects of data analysis, the methodologies are very different, especially regarding the mathematical routines employed to support different postural evaluation software., Conclusion: With photogrammetry, the aim of the assessment, whether it is for clinical, research or collective health purposes, must be considered when choosing which protocol to use to evaluate spinal posture.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of inappropriate postural habits in students. 827 Brazilian students aged 14 to 19 were evaluated with a self-administered questionnaire. A high prevalence of (>90%) inappropriate habits in sitting postures (on a chair, to write, and at a computer) and picking up an object off the floor was observed, suggesting the need to develop preventive programs.

Introduction: The early evaluation of the spine in children is desirable because it is at this stage of development that the greatest changes in the body structures occur., Objective: To determine the test-retest, intra- and inter-rater reliability of the Flexicurve instrument for the evaluation of spinal curvatures in children., Method: Forty children ranging from 5 to 15 years of age were evaluated by two independent evaluators using the Flexicurve to model the spine. The agreement was evaluated using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Standard Error of the Measurement (SEM), and Minimal Detectable Change (MDC)., Results: In relation to thoracic kyphosis, the Flexicurve was shown to have excellent correlation in terms of test-retest reliability (ICC2,2=0.87) and moderate correlation in terms of intra-(ICC2,2=0.68) and inter-rater reliability (ICC2,2=0.72). In relation to lumbar lordosis, it was shown to have moderate correlation in terms of test-retest reliability (ICC2,2=0.66) and intra- (ICC2,2=0.50) and inter-rater reliability (ICC=0.56)., Conclusion: This evaluation of the reliability of the Flexicurve allows its use in school screening. However, to monitor spinal curvatures in the sagittal plane in children, complementary clinical measures are necessary. Further studies are required to investigate the concurrent validity of the instrument in order to identify its diagnostic capacity.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to identify whether postural changes are prevalent with advancing age using a photogrammetric method performing one-year follow-up study. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-eight schoolchildren were evaluated in 2011 and 2012 in this cohort study. The subjects underwent a postural evaluation, which involved palpation of reference anatomic points, placement of reflexive markers over the anatomic points, image acquisition, and point digitalization using the Digital Image-based Postural Assessment evaluation software. For data analysis, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were analyzed by McNemar's test. [Results] The results showed a significant increase in postural change prevalence for the lumbar spine in the sagittal plane (from 42.2% to 81.6%) and the knees in the frontal plane (from 39.5% to 63.2%) and a significant decrease in the prevalence of scoliosis (from 68.5% to 42.2%). [Conclusion] The findings indicate an increase in the prevalence of postural changes in schoolchildren from Teutônia, RS, Brazil, in 2012 compared with 2011. The development of longitudinal investigations for long-term monitoring of the evolution of posture and of schoolchildren habits's representing a viable alternative to subsidize health actions.

Background: There is no consensus regarding the influence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) on postural changes, but it is believed that an imbalance in one may influence the other. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in the level of pain, the severity of TMD, the EMG activity of masticatory muscles and posture of young women undergoing training in Pilates, as well as correlating postural changes, pain level, severity of TMD and EMG activity of masticatory muscles., Methods/design: A randomized clinical trial with blinded assessors will be held. 40 patients divided randomly into two groups will be assessed. The control group will receive conventional treatment with occlusal splint while the intervention group, in addition to conventional treatment will participate in Pilates sessions. Both groups will consist of women aged 18-35 years with TMD and pain. The research follow-up period will be 15 weeks., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge of the spine and posture among adolescent female students and to determine if they had access to postural education in or outside school. [Subjects and Methods] This was an epidemiological survey of a representative sample of 495 female students aged 14 to 18 years attending a regular secondary school in São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil. Data were collected through a questionnaire. [Results] The results showed that 16.8% of teens did not know what a spine was, 8.3% had no knowledge of posture, and 61% reported receiving no posture education. Posture awareness was associated only with posture while using a computer, while having postural education class was not associated with any postural behavior. [Conclusion] The results showed that, although most students are familiar with the spine and posture, a sizable group is not, and over half had no postural education. These findings suggest that inclusion of postural education programs in schools should be encouraged in order to promote health and prevent diseases related to the spine.

Lack of alignment between the lowerlimb structures, such as the hips, knees, and longitudinal arches of the feet, has been described as an important predisposing factor in musculoskeletal injury among classical ballet dancers. However, no studies were found that analyzed basic ballet movements with quantification of objective criteria of the movements. The purposes of this study were: 1. to establish a methodology to quantify, using kinematic evaluation, the technical criteria that guide the correct execution of all phases of the plié (simultaneous flexion of the hips, knees, and ankle joints); and 2. to explore whether experienced ballet dancers respect those criteria when performing the plié. The technical criteria considered were the following: 1. midfoot stability; 2. pelvic positioning in a neutral alignment; 3. pelvic stability, represented by pelvic angle variation; and 4. vertical alignment of the knee joint with the second toe of the ipsilateral foot. Twenty dancers from Porto Alegre, Brazil, with 18 years of uninterrupted ballet training, were filmed while performing plié using four synchronized cameras. The descriptive statistical analysis involved calculating the median, minimum, and maximum of each of the technical criteria. Results showed that for criterion 1, the 20 dancers showed great stabilization of the midfoot; for criteria 2 and 3, 18 dancers displayed pelvic instability tending toward retroversion throughout execution of the plié; and for criterion 4, 13 dancers presented with medial misalignment of the knees at all phases of the plié. Using these criteria, it was possible to characterize the plié from a kinematic point of view.

Objective: To investigate the association between behavioral risk factors, specifically postural habits, with the presence of structural changes in the spine of children and adolescents., Methods: 59 students were evaluated through the self-reporting Back Pain and Body Posture Evaluation Instrument e and the spine panoramic radiographic examination. The spine curvatures were classified, based on Cobb' angle, as normal or altered in the saggital plane and as normal or scoliotic in the frontal plane. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0, from descriptive statistics and chi-square association test (α=0,05)., Results: The prevalence of postural alterations was 79.7% (n=47), of which 47.5% (n=28) showed frontal plane alterations and 61% (n=36) sagital plane alterations. Significant association was found between the presence of thoracic kyphosis and female gender, practice of physical exercise only once or twice a week, sleep time greater than 10 hours, inappropriate postures to sit on the bench and sit down to write, and transport of school supplies. Lumbar lordosis was associated with improperly transportation of school backpack (asymmetric); and scoliosis was associated with the practice of competitive sport and sleep time greater than 10 hours., Conclusions: Lifestyle may be associated with postural alterations. It is important to develop health policies in order to reduce the prevalence of postural alterations with a reduction of associated risk factors., (Copyright © 2014 Associação de Pediatria de São Paulo. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.)