Hyperkyphotic posture among adolescents – still a public health problem

Abstract

Posture, hyper-kyphosis or “the postural round back”, and balance are topics that have been extensively studied, although with some conflicting findings. Body position is representative of physical and mental health. Bad posture can lead to spinal complications (affects the muscular system, deforms the skeletal bone, and causes abnormal development) and the same can be said the other way around. As the standard of living increases, there is an increase in consumerism for technological devices, especially among teenagers. Identified as a public health problem, postural changes among children and adolescents have a high prevalence, emphasizing the need for prevention, diagnosis, and early initiation of treatment, especially from the growth and development phase of the body, because during this period teenagers are most vulnerable to live changes. Taking these elements into consideration, we conducted an extensive literature review of the subject, considering adolescence a key element for early diagnosticating and the institution of a complex rehabilitation program, with full functional restoration. Efforts to reduce the prevalence of bad posture will improve not only body posture but will also reduce the prevalence and the severity of spine deformities.

Keywords

• hyperkyphosis
• posture
• adolescents
• the postural round back
• balance