Postural disorders in preschool children

The occurrence of spinal deformities during periods of rapid growth in children has been increasingly recognized as a significant issue within the broader community. This study aimed to evaluate the spinal posture during one of the most critical phases of physiological development in a specific group of preschool children. The research involved 153 preschool aged 4 to 6 years (mean age ± standard deviation: 4.6 ± 1.1 years) residing in Sarajevo. Postural assessment was conducted using the method proposed by Napoleon Wolanski (1975), which evaluates segmental relationships through the following parameters: head posture assessment (HPA), shoulder posture assessment (SPA), scapular posture assessment (SBPA), chest posture assessment (CPA), scoliotic posture evaluation (SCP), abdominal posture assessment (APA), leg posture assessment (LPA), and foot posture assessment (FPA). Deviations were categorized based on severity, assigned negative points as follows: 0 points for no deviation, 1 point for mild deviation, and 2 points for significant deviation. The associations between the eight parameters were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rho). The highest degree of correlation was observed between the variables of abdominal posture assessment and head posture assessment (0.536). Poor abdominal posture, often linked to weakened core muscles or imbalances in the lumbar region, can result in compensatory shifts in the head and neck to preserve balance and visual orientation.