2007, Piran, Slovenia

Working Environment
RESULTS
The results indicate that 77.7% of the participants were physically active in their free time at
least twice or three times a week. Within this subject population, 2.8% were completely
inactive, whereas 9.3% of them were active occasionally (once a month to once a week).
About a third (35.8%) of the subjects took part in some form of organized physical activities,
mostly soccer, dancing, tennis, swimming and gymnastics. Non-organized physical activities
included roller-blading, tennis, badminton and ice-skating.
We found that most of the participants could be classified as having symmetry of m. erector
spinae (71.8%). We did not find any statistically significant differences among participants in
the index of direction and level of asymmetry according to gender.
With the method of multiple regression analysis we studied the relationship between the
characteristics of the children’s physical activity and symmetry of m. erector spinae. The best
correlation was observed for Dm. A regression analysis of the characteristics of the children’s
physical activity and the level of asymmetry in maximum muscle belly displacement of m.
erector spinae was statistically significant and explained 43.5% of the variability. The
correlation between symmetry of m. erector spinae and the quantity of swimming and cycling
within the family were shown to be statistically significant. The relation between quantity of
swimming and cycling showed a positive correlation with development of symmetry of m.
erector spinae. Regression models for the assessment of influence of child’s physical activity
on symmetry of m. erector spinae based on delay time (Td) and contraction time (Tc) were
not statistically significant.
On the basis of our findings, it can be concluded that a child’s physical activity influences
maximum muscle belly displacement of m. erector spinae, but does not influence the delay
time (Td) and contraction time (Tc) of the muscles measured.
DISCUSSION
One of the most important external factors, which influences a child's development is physical
activity. Physical activity is one of those factors, which can be highly controlled and directed.
The type of physical activity does not explain the development of symmetry in a child.
However, symmetry of m. erector spinae is correlated with the level of physical activity. The
results showed that asymmetry of m. erector spinae is statistically significant in children, who
play soccer in their free time, whereas the biggest symmetry of m. erector spinae develops in
children, who dance and roller-blade.
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