Effects of body composition and physical fitness on Scoliosis in female middle school students

Abstract

The improvement in economic conditions and advancements in science and technology have greatly enhanced the convenience of people's lives. However, negative effects such as increasing rates of obesity among adolescents and spinal disorders have also been prominently observed. Therefore, this study aimed toㅠinvestigate adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by classifying 186 female middle school students from S Middle School in S district, S City into a normal group and a scoliosis group. The normal group comprised 169 participants, while the scoliosis group consisted of 17 female middle school students with Cobb's angle of 10° or higher. To analyze the influence of body composition and physical fitness on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, the Mann-Whitney U test was employed to examine the differences in body composition and physical fitness. Additionally, Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between Cobb's angle in the thoracic and lumbar regions and variables related to body composition and physical fitness. Regression analysis was utilized to analyze the factors through which body composition and physical fitness variables affect Cobb's angle in the thoracic and lumbar regions. The following conclusions were drawn: 1. Among 186 female middle school students, 17 students had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, accounting for 9.1% of the total. Furthermore, the height of students in the scoliosis group was approximately 1% higher than that of the normal group, while the weight was approximately 4% lower, but these differences were not statistically significant. 2. In terms of body composition, BMI (kg/m2) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were significantly lower in the scoliosis group compared to the normal group (approximately 6% and 3% lower, respectively, p < .05). Other measures such as percent body fat (BF%), soft lean mass(SLM), body fat mass (BFM), fat-free mass (FFM), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) were also lower in the scoliosis group, although the differences were not statistically significant. 3. In terms of physical fitness assessment, the scoliosis group had about 39% lower sit and reach and about 4% lower back muscle strength than the normal group, and there was no significant difference in all items. 4. The correlation analysis between Cobb's angle in the thoracic and lumbar regions and body composition, as well as physical fitness, revealed a significant negative correlation between lumbar spine left angle and height (r =-.539), and the regression equation was [Lumbar spine left angle=-.930 × height + 154.226]. The results of this study indicate that the decline in students' physical fitness due to COVID-19 is continuing, and it highlights the issues of underweight and decreased muscular strength in adolescents. These findings emphasize the need for multidimensional research focusing on addressing these concerns. It is suggested that future efforts should aim to maintain a healthy body weight, engage in regular physical activity, and develop exercise programs to prevent and improve adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.|경제 수준의 향상과 과학 기술의 발전으로 인해 사람들의 삶의 편의는 크게 향상되었지만, 청소년의 비만률과 척추 질환이 연간 증가하는 등 부정적인 영향도 많이 나타나고 있다. 이에, 본 연구는 청소년 척추측만 조사를 위해 S시 S구 S중학교의 여중생 186명을 대상으로 정상군과 척추측만증군으로 분류하였다. 정상군은 169명이며, 척추측만증군은 Cobb’s angle이 10° 이상인 여중생 17명이다. 청소년 척추측만증에 대한 신체 조성과 체력의 영향을 분석하기 위해 Mann-Whitney U 검정을 사용하여 신체 조성과 체력의 차이를 분석했다. 또한 Pearson 상관 관계를 사용하여 흉추 및 요추 부위의 Cobb's angle와 신체 조성 및 체력 간의 관련성을 분석하였고 회귀 분석을 사용하여 신체 조성과 체력 변수가 흉추 및 요추 부위의 Cobb's angle에 미치는 영향 요소를 분석하여 다음과 같은 결론을 도출하였다: 1. 중학교 여학생 186명 중 척추측만증은 17명으로 전체의 9.1%를 차지하였다. 그리고 척추측만증군 학생들의 신장은 정상군보다 약 1% 높았고, 체중은 약 4% 낮았지만 유의한 차이는 없었다. 2. 신체조성 중 BMI(kg/m2)와 복부지방률(WHR)은 정상군보다 척추측만증군이 유의하게 낮았다(각각 약 6%, 약 3%, p<.05). 그 외 체지방률(BF%), 근육량(SLM), 체지방량(BFM), 제지방량(FFM), 골격근량(SMM)도 정상군보다 척추측만증군이 낮았지만 유의한 차이는 없었다. 3. 체력측정은 척추측만증군이 정상군보다 좌전굴 약 39%, 배근력 약 4%가 낮았으며 모든 항목에서 유의한 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 4. 흉추、요추부위 Cobb‘s angle과 신체조성, 체력의 상관관계를 분석한 결과, 요추좌각과 신장(r=-.539)이 유의한 부적 상관관계가 있었으며 회귀식은 [요추좌각=-.930×신장+154.226]이다. 본 연구 결과 코로나 19로 인해 학생들의 체력약화는 지속적으로 진행되고 있는 것을 확인할 수 있으며, 본 연구결과에서 문제점으로 나타난 청소년의 저체중과 근력 저하를 중심으로 다각도의 연구가 필요하며 앞으로 적정 체중을 유지하고 건강한 신체활동을 통해 척추측만 예방 및 이를 개선할 수 있는 운동프로그램 개발이 필요하다고 사료된다.