Effect of using a spine mat on sagittal spinal alignment in children

Koji Koyama; Tomomi Ichiba; Kozo Furushima; Yoshinori Sugano; Azusa Niitsu; Yuka Kodachi; Sosuke Niino; Mayumi Ueno; Eiji Takahashi; Kazutaka Adachi

Return

Effect of using a spine mat on sagittal spinal alignment in children

VernacularTitle:スパインマットが子どもの脊柱アライメントに与える影響
Author: Koji KOYAMA ¹ ; Tomomi ICHIBA ² ; Kozo FURUSHIMA ³ ; Yoshinori SUGANO ⁴ ; Azusa NIITSU ⁴ ; Yuka KODACHI ⁴ ; Sosuke NIINO ⁴ ; Mayumi UENO ⁴ ; Eiji TAKAHASHI ⁴ ; Kazutaka ADACHI ⁵
Author Information

1. Tokyo Ariake University of Medical and Health Sciences
2. Kyorin University
3. Keiyu Orthopaedic Hospital
4. SSSA Sports Massage Clinic
5. University of Tsukuba
Keywords: posture; excessive thoracic angle; standing position
From:Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 2023;72(2):173-181
CountryJapan
Language:Japanese
Abstract: Recently, poor posture (hyperkyphosis) has become a problem among children. This study investigated the effectiveness of an intervention (a spine mat) by measuring spinal alignment before and after the intervention in elementary school students. The study included 83 elementary school students. For the intervention, each participant was placed in a supine position on a bed and a spine mat was inserted ensuring that it adhered to the thoracic spine. The primary outcome variables included the thoracic kyphosis angle (TKA), upper thoracic angle, lower thoracic angle, lumbar lordosis angle (LLA), and sacral anteversion angle (SAA) measured in the standing and sitting positions using Spinal Mouse® before and after the intervention. Based on this evaluation, we assigned the participants to two groups: hyperkyphosis (n=25) and non-hyperkyphosis (n=58). Significant differences were observed between the pre-test and post-test TKA in the hyperkyphosis group in the standing position (pre-test: 45.3±4.5° and post-test: 40.8±9.0°, P<0.05). In the non-hyperkyphosis group, significant differences were observed between the pre-test and post-test LLA and SAA in the standing position. However, no significant difference was observed between the pre-test and post-test spinal alignment in the sitting position in both groups. The results of this study indicated that using a spine mat in elementary school children resulted in decreased TKA in the standing position only in the hyperkyphosis group, which exhibited a TKA of 40° or more after the intervention.