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. 2020 Mar 2;10(1):3823.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-60813-w.

Standard reference values of the upper body posture in healthy male adults aged between 41 and 50 years in Germany

Daniela Ohlendorf  1 , Ali Gerez  2 , Laurin Porsch  2 , Fabian Holzgreve  2 , Laura Maltry  2 , Hanns Ackermann  3 , David A Groneberg  2
Affiliations

Standard reference values of the upper body posture in healthy male adults aged between 41 and 50 years in Germany

Daniela Ohlendorf et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Classifications of posture deviations are possible when they can be compared to the standard values for healthy persons. Standard values for healthy male adults aged between 41 and 50 years are currently missing.

Methods: 100 healthy volunteers (41-50 years old; 45.37 ± 3.06 years) were included in the study. Their body weight ranged from 68 to 132 kg (88.76 ± 15.93 kg), their heights from 1.64 to 2.0 m (1.81 ± 0.07 m) and the Body Mass Index (BMI) ranged from 19.0 kg/m² to 37.7 kg/m² (26.2 ± 3.96 kg/m²). A three-dimensional back scan was performed to quantify the upper back posture during habitual standing. The upper and lower limit for 95% of the tolerance regions and the left and right limit of the confidence interval were calculated.

Results: The upper body posture of the subjects was close to the symmetry, or 0°, axis. There was a moderate ventral upper body inclination with a slight left lateral axial deviation and rotation of the spine to the right. An enhanced kyphotic posture was observed in the sagittal plane in the area of the thoracic spine. The shoulder and pelvis areas were almost balanced.

Conclusion: Healthy males between 41 and 50 years were found to have an almost balanced posture with minimal ventral body inclination and a marginal scoliotic deviation. These values allow a comparison with other studies for control and patient data and may serve as basis in both clinical practice and scientific studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequency distribution of BMI according to WHO classification.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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