Forward Head Angle and Shoulder Angle in Relation to Stabilometry in Children with Pectus Excavatum Included in an...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomechanical Engineering

Background:

• Pectus excavatum (PE) is a common chest wall deformity in pediatric patients.
• PE can cause trunk and spinal postural adaptations, affecting the center of gravity.
• Understanding these adaptations is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a structured exercise program on postural alignment and static balance in children with PE.
• To assess changes in biomechanical function and neuromuscular control following the intervention.

Main Methods:

• 35 pediatric patients with PE (Haller index < 3.25) participated in a 3-month exercise program.
• Intervention included postural correction, thoracic mobility, breathing retraining, and trunk strengthening.
• Postural alignment and static balance were assessed using specialized analysis systems (GaitON, PoDATA 2.0).

Main Results:

• Stabilometric analysis showed reduced center of pressure (COP) displacement, indicating improved postural control.
• Postural analysis revealed significant improvements in head and shoulder girdle alignment.
• Correlations suggested links between spinal alignment and balance, with potential reduction in thoracic hyperkyphosis.

Conclusions:

• A structured exercise program positively impacts biomechanical function and neuromuscular control in pediatric PE.
• Postural and stabilometric assessments are valuable tools for monitoring PE.
• These findings support integrating exercise into conservative PE management strategies.