THE IMPACT OF BODY WEIGHT ON POSTURAL MALALIGNMENT

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the impact of body weight on postural malalignment among a group of 82 participants, all employed by Ministry of Internal Affairs in Romania. Postural malalignment was assessed in the orthostatic position, in the sagittal plane, on the dominant (right) side. Joint angle values were determined using a goniometer, and the length of the thoracic spine was measured with a metric tape and the body weight with a electronic scale. Descriptive statistical analysis of the data, performed using SPSS software, indicated that the most significant weight ranges for the prevalence of malalignment were 86 kg (4.9%) and 90 kg (6.1%), suggesting a tendency for postural deviations in cases of higher body weight. Weights below 60 kg were very rare (1.2%), indicating a minor representation of individuals with low body weight within the subject group. Spearman correlation analysis revealed the existence of significant relationships between body weight and certain postural angles, suggesting that body mass is positively and significantly correlated (p=0.00) with the craniovertebral angle and the knee flexion angle. This supports the idea that individuals with higher weight exhibit evident postural adaptations in these segments, a phenomenon interpreted as a strategy to compensate for the displacement of the centre of gravity. Higher body weight was also associated with an elongation of the thoracic spine, perceived as an adaptive reaction to changes in body alignment and mass distribution, contributing to the support of body weight and postural stability. The absence of significant correlations between shoulder position and knee flexion, as well as between pelvic tilt and knee flexion, demonstrates that postural adaptation mechanisms can act selectively on certain muscle chains, without always involving the entire locomotor system. Furthermore, correlation analysis highlighted several significant relationships between postural parameters, revealing a complex model of biomechanical interdependence. The forward position of the head is directly correlated with the forward position of the shoulders, confirming existing theories on ascending kinematic chains, according to which changes in head position induce adaptations at the level of the scapular girdle. Consequently, the research findings support the concept of postural interdependence between the upper and lower body segments. The significant correlations identified between alignment parameters demonstrate the existence of an integrated dysfunctional model, where adaptations in one segment generate compensatory changes in global postural alignment.