TITLE:
Obesity Effect on Children Hip and Knee Range of Motion
AUTHORS:
Silvia Maria Amado João, Maira Nomura Nishizaki, Cynthia Hitomi Yamamoto, Vera Lúcia Perino Barbosa, Juliana Ferreira Sauer
KEYWORDS:
Obesity, Children, Body Joint Motion, Range of Motion
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Clinical Medicine,
Vol.5 No.9,
April
25,
2014
ABSTRACT: The aim of this
study was to characterize the obesity effect on children knee and hip joint
range of motion. A randomized controlled trial was performed
with goniometry evaluation for hip flexion, extension, abduction, adduction,
external and internal rotation, and knee flexion in fifty male children (20
obese and 30 non obese), with age ranging from 6 to 12 years old. The obesity
effect was found to be non-uniform across the joint range of motion. In the
obesity group, a statistically significant reduction in the range of motion of
hip flexion and adduction, and knee flexion was observed; and also an increase
in external rotation in the hip was observed. Conclusion: Obese and overweight children present alterations in
hip and knee joints mobility when compared to eutrophic children. The
obesity/overweight associated with factors previously described in the literature,
such as joint overload, postural deviation and sedentariness may influence the
musculoskeletal development and, consequently, the motor function.