Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai: Educatio Artis Gymnasticae (Sep 2021)

BACK SCHOOL PROGRAM: DEVELOPMENT OF BACK CARE KNOWLEDGE AND SPINE DISEASE PREVENTION AND TRUNK STATE AMONG 6-7-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN

  • Brigitta SZILÁGYI,
  • Alexandra MAKAI,
  • Péter TARDI,
  • Viktória KOVÁCSNÉ BOBÁLY,
  • Ágnes SIMON-UGRON,
  • Melinda JÁROMI

DOI
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbeag.66(3).26
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 66, no. 3

Abstract

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Introduction: The prevalence of posture deformities and muscle weakness among primary school children is high (50-65%). Objective: To assess and improve the back care knowledge and spine disease prevention, the strength of the trunk muscles, the flexibility of the lower limb muscles, the posture, and the lumbar motor control ability of primary school children by a 1-school year back school program. Methods: 102 (mean age: 6.549±0.500 years) children were examined at the baseline, and 48 (23 boys, 25 girls) were chosen for the program. Back care knowledge was examined by validated questionnaire, trunk muscle strength, and muscle flexibility by Lehmann tests, posture by New York Posture Rating Chart, and lumbar motor control by Sitting Forward Lean Test. Results: The complete back care knowledge (2.423±3.911, 19.115±2.833 points; p<0.001), trunk flexor (3.615±7.910, 56.885±113.748 sec; p<0.001), trunk extensor (8.962±5.963, 77.000±139.801 sec; p<0.001) static muscle strength, lower limb flexibility (p<0.001), habitual posture (53.846±10.130, 81.154±9.829 points; p<0.001), posture deemed correct 40.962±16.311, 91.346±6.566 points; p<0.001) and lumbar motor control (8.269±5.474, 0.154±0.368 mm; p<0.001) significantly improved in the intervention group for the end of the program. Conclusions: The back school program improves the back care knowledge and the trunk state among 6-7 years old children.

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