ORIGINAL ARTICLE Musculoskeletal findings in obese children

• Published in: Journal of paediatrics and child health Vol. 42; no. 6; pp. 341 - 344
• Main Authors: Ana L de Sá Pinto, Patricia M de Barros Holanda, Radu, Ari S, Villares, Sandra MF, Lima, Fernanda R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2006
• Subjects: Exercise; Muscular system; Obesity; Pain; Pediatrics; Skeletal system
• ISSN: 1034-4810; 1440-1754
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2006.00869.x

A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore osteoarticular alterations in obese children. Twenty-five boys and 24 girls (mean age: 10.8 +/- 2.07 years) with a body mass index (BMI) above the 95th percentile were compared with 28 boys and 19 girls (controls, mean age: 10.4 +/- 2.3 years) with a BMI below the 80th percentile. A higher frequency of at least one osteoarticular manifestation was observed in obese patients (55%) compared with the control group (23%) (P = 0.001). A statistically significant association was also found between obesity and lower back pain, genu valgum, genu recurvatum and tight quadriceps. Fibromyalgia tender points (=11) were present at similar frequency in both groups (obese: 3/38 (9%) vs. control: 1/48 (2%)). The present data suggest that obesity has a negative impact on osteoarticular health by promoting biomechanical changes in the lumbar spine and lower extremities. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]