"Evaluation of Static and Dynamic Postural Balance in Children With Thoracic Hyperkyphosis"
"Evaluation of Static and Dynamic Postural Balance in Children With Thoracic Hyperkyphosis"
The purpose of our study; is to investigate how balance parameters are affected in comparison
 with healthy children in children with thoracic hyperkyphosis and to examine the relationship
 of these results with muscle strength, shortness-flexibility, pain, range of motion,
 functional status, physical activity level and quality of life. The hypothesis of the study
 is that children with thoracic hyperkyphosis have impaired balance compared to their healthy
 peers. With this finding, it can be ensured that clinical evaluations and treatment
 strategies for balance in children with hyperkifosis are included in the treatment plan. 31
 children with thoracic hyperkyphosis were included in the evaluation group, and 31 children
 with normal physiological curves were included in the control group. Participants were
 evaluated once by the physical therapist.
The study was included chidren with hyperkyphosis at the İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa,
 Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. G*Power 3.1.9.2
 program was used to calculate the sample size. Due to the absence of MCID value for the
 Biodex Balance System in the literature while sample size calculation, the average values for
 males and females are 3.83 and 3.05 based on the "Overall Stability Index" based on the
 dominant side from a similar study conducted with healthy young adults; standard deviation
 values were placed in the formula as 1.03 and 1.13 (σ). (power=80%, α=0.05, significance
 level 2-tailed, and effect size d = 0.73). A total of 62 cases were decided to be included in
 the study, with 31 individuals per group. Participants were evaluated once by the physical
 therapist. Evaluation consist of demographic information form, Biodex Balance System, visual
 analog scale, "Hand-held" dynamometer, range of motion, pektoralis minor muscle flexibility,
 triple-hop distance test, 20-m sprint test, Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children,
 Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, functional reach test and occiput-wall distance. SPSS
 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) 22 statistical program was used for the statistical
 analysis of the data. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The "Chi-Square
 Test" was used to compare the difference between groups for categorical variables such as
 gender, dominant side, and educational status. The statistical analysis for group comparisons
 was performed using the "Mann-Whitney U Test" for non-parametric samples. Correlation
 analysis between the data was done with "Spearmann r Test". In all tests, a significance
 level of 0.05 (5%) was used.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Thoracic kyphosis angle: ≥ 45˚ (Cobb)

 -  Age between 9-18 years

 -  Volunteering to participate in the study

 -  Not physiotherapy

 -  Not cest tretment

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Spinal surgery history

 -  Vision and hearing impairment

 -  Difficulty in detecting commands given

 -  Lower extremity affect that may affect balance

 -  Systemic disorder associated with balance

 -  Neurological influence

 -  > 20˚ (Cobb) scoliosis deformity