Posture Analysis by using iPhone App (Posture Zone) in Collegiate – A Pilot Study

Research Article

Ann Yoga Phys Ther. 2016; 1(1): 1002.

Posture Analysis by using iPhone App (Posture Zone) in Collegiate – A Pilot Study

Senthilkumar Thiyagarajan¹* and Tanvi Tanna²

¹Department of Physiotherapy, The Oxford College of Physiotherapy, India

²MPT II year Student, The Oxford College of Physiotherapy, India

*Corresponding author: Senthilkumar Thiyagarajan, The Oxford College of Physiotherapy, Bangalore, India

Received: June 08, 2016; Accepted: July 01, 2016; Published: July 07, 2016

Abstract

Background: Good posture is really important for living healthier and longer. Most people are completely unaware of how much their body is folded forward even when they think they’re standing straight. The negative effects of our sitting, slumped over keyboards and phones, are enormous. Posture Zone is a tool for people to benchmark and track postural changes, Improvements, or decline, a common consequence of excessive sitting, injuries and aging.

Aim: To assess postural deviations in collegiate.

Objectives: To evaluate the postural deviation in the college students.

Method: A total number of 60 students age between 17 to 25 years (mean age 19.5) from The Oxford College of Physiotherapy, Bangalore were included in the study.

Study type:

Descriptive study: Postural assessment was taken by using a posture zone iPhone app (free version). Pictures were taken in anterior, posterior and lateral (right and left). On the front/back view, the head result notes how far left or right the head is about midpoint of stance. The shoulder and hip results are how far to the left and right each shoulder/hip is leaning from the center point of where student was standing. The close result has to symmetry on front / back viewed the more balanced body. In the side view, from the midpoint of the feet to pelvis, torso, and head – the number is how far to the right or left each Posture Zone is leaning from the center of the feet. The closer result is to zero the better the balance points of the body.

Conclusion: This study found that significant postural deviation seen in Torso, Pelvis dominant side and head. Participant included in the study were regular users of smart phone.

Keywords: Posture; Posture zone; iPhone apps; Torso; Pelvis; Head

Introduction

The importance of normal upright posture has been proposed since the early 1900 when it was described as a state of balance requiring minimal muscular effort to maintain [1,2]. Posture is an indicator of how long and how well you’ll live - Atlanta, Georgia.” Good posture is really important for living healthier longer. The negative effects of our sitting society, slumped over keyboards and phones, are enormous.

Posture affects everything from the way you move to body functions, including

Aging, Arthritis, Body symmetry, Fall prevention, Back pain, Neck and shoulder issue, Headaches, Athletic performance, Rehabilitation of injuries Breathing Gastrointestinal efficiency, Cardiovascular performance Appearance Confidence.

The standing posture (Latin - positura - position) is the correct relation of different parts of the body which maintains a balance between supporting structures [3]. However, posture is not an easy subject to study, mainly because postural assessments are still scientifically inaccurate, such as photography, or expensive, such as MRI, whereas others, such as X-ray, involve radiation problems [4].

It is affirmed that the measurement of body angle or distance by photography is the most promising technique to globally assess posture both in the sagittal (two sides) and frontal planes (anterior and posterior views) because photograph acquisition is cheap, fast, and easy.

Posture Zone is a tool for people to benchmark and track posture changes, Improvements, or decline, a common consequence of excessive sitting, injuries and aging.

Objectives and need of the study

To assess feasibility of posture zone iPhone App and find out postural deviations in collegiate. Quantitative measurement of postural deviation which helps to determine the need of postural corrections treatment. As it was tested and proved that photogrammetric measurement is a reliable and valid tool for assessment of posture. Hence we felt it necessary to have an approach to evaluate posture by using posture analysis software. Conventional Goniometric measurement is a Lengthy process whereas measurement with posture zone iPhone App is Easy applicable in all places and designed set up is not required. Measurement can be recorded and kept for future references and studies. It can give Visual Feedback on deviation and improvement.

Methodology

Study design

A descriptive study to assess postural deviations in collegiate. A total number of 60 students age between 17 to 25 years (mean age 19.5) from The Oxford College of Physiotherapy Bangalore Karnataka were included in the study.

Selection criteria

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

Procedure

Postural assessment was taken by using a posture zone iPhone app (free version). Pictures were taken from 3 meters (300cms) away from the wall in anterior, posterior and lateral (right and left) [5]. On the front/back view, the head result notes how far left or right the head is about midpoint of stance. The shoulder and hip results are how far to the left and right each shoulder/hip is leaning from the center point of where student was standing. The closer result is to symmetry on front/back view the more symmetrical body. In the side view, from the midpoint of the feet to pelvis, torso, and head – the number is how far to the right or left each Posture Zone is leaning from the center of the feet. The closer result is to zero the better the balance points of the body.

Ethical committee and informed consent

The project had ethics approval from The Oxford College of Physiotherapy Review Board on Ethics for Research (TOCPTRBER). And informed consent was obtained from each participant.

Results

Tables 1-3, In this study marked postural deviation is seen in head lateral (right side) with mean 3.32 (SD=1.25). In torso lateral (right side) deviation with mean 2.64 (SD=1.09) and in pelvis significant deviations also in lateral (right side) with mean 4.25 (SD=1.78).