Publications
Impact of Standing and Sitting Postures on Spinal Curvature and Muscle Mechanical Properties in Young Women: A Photogrammetric and MyotonPRO Analysis
Authors: Tomasz Sipko 1, Katarzyna Barczyk-Pawelec 1, Mirela Piksa 1, Joanna Mencel 2
Affiliations:
- Department of Kinesiotherapy, Physiotherapy Faculty, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
- Department of Kinesiology, Physiotherapy Faculty, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
Journal: Medical Science Monitor - July 2024, Volume 30, Article no. e944930 (DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944930)
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Field & Applications:
- Women's health
- Balance / Postural control
- Muscle symmetry
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of standing and sitting positions on spinal curvatures evaluated using projection moiré and muscle tone and stiffness using the MyotonPRO hand-held device in young women.
Material and Methods: Thirty-three healthy women, aged 21 to 23 years, volunteered in the study. We used the projection moiré method to examine spinal curvatures in both positions and the MyotonPRO device to measure the tone and stiffness of muscles in 3 regions. We evaluated the effects of positions (standing vs sitting), regions (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar), and side factor (right vs left) using multivariate analysis.
Results: The sitting position significantly decreased the lumbosacral and thoracolumbar angles (P<0.001), but had no effect on the superior thoracic angle. Muscle tension and stiffness were the highest (P<0.001) in the cervical region and did not differ between positions (P>0.05) in this region. We found significantly higher muscle tone and stiffness in the thoracic and lumbar regions during sitting than during standing (P<0.001). There was symmetry in the muscle tone and the stiffness between the right and left sides of the spine.
Conclusions: The sitting posture decreased lumbosacral and thoracolumbar angles but increased muscle tension and stiffness in the lumbar and thoracic regions only. The symmetry of muscle tone and transverse stiffness in both positions was the normative value. This study provides insight into the adaptive physiological changes in spinal curvature and muscle mechanical properties in young women and serves as an important reference point for clinical studies of women.
Keywords: posture, postural balance, muscle tonus, hardness, postural asymmetry factor
Our findings indicated balanced spinal curvature and lower values of muscle tension and stiffness in the lumbar and thoracic regions in the standing position in young, healthy women. The sitting position decreased lumbosacral and thoracolumbar angles but increased muscle tone and stiffness in the lumbar and thoracic regions. The cervical region had the highest muscle tone and stiffness in the standing and sitting positions. The symmetry of muscle tone and stiffness in the cervical and thoracic regions in both positions was the normative value. These findings can be interpreted as adaptive physiological mechanisms in healthy young women and provide a reference for clinical studies of women.