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SPORTO MOKSLAS
Morpho-functional changes of young athlete’s
musculoskeletal system
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jelena Solovjova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Imants Upitis, Prof. Dr. Juris Grants
Latvian Academy of Sport Education
Summary
In order to study the effect of specific postural changes 59 athletes from three sports, aged 14 through 17 were tested.
Tests were completed using methods by L. Vasiljeva (1996) for visual diagnostics and by V. Janda, 1994, H.Kendall,
F.Kendall, 1982, for muscular functional testing. From these methods a diagnostic program was developed, which
included measuring the changes of 8 sagital points from the vertical plane along with functional testing of 11 muscle
groups. Results showed that falling forward as the standing posture was common to all groups. Hockey players fell
9.1cm (±0.5cm) forward from the vertical plane taken from the ankle, swimmers fell 5.5cm (±0.4cm) while basketball
players fell 10.7cm (±0.6cm) forward. The three groups showed forward tilt of the upper pelvis point. Ice hockey players
had the largest misalignment in the upper pelvis (10.4cm ± 0.7cm), swimmers had the largest misalignment at
the shoulders (10.6cm ± 0.4cm) and basketball players had the largest misalignment at the ears (10.7 ± 0.6cm). It is
believed that an imbalanced training load causes these postural changes in athletes. Functional muscle testing highlighted
changes in the postural muscles of the three groups therefore indicating changes in posture of young athletes.
By using the test data as a base, it should be possible to show early posture changes and to carry out a programme of
prophylaxis and/or correction.
Keywords: young athletes, posture specifics, postural changes.
Introduction
Incorrect posture and muscle imbalance negatively
influence the effectiveness of the training process
(development of technical elements, load increase,
result increase). Significant functional disorders of
the musculoskeletal system decrease the functional
ability of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and
nervous systems, as well as the body adaptation and
vice versa (Travell, Simons 1992; Васильева,1996;
Иваничев 1999).
Optimal statics of the musculoskeletal system
occur when all joint segments are in a neutral position.
Less than optimal body statics is characterized by
asymmetric position of the parts of the musculoskeletal
system with the increase of the postural muscle
gravitation, and the body is in the position of falling
forward, sideward or backward (Travell, Simons,
1992; Vasilyeva, 1996; Иваничев 1999; Vasilyeva,
2002; Solovjova, 2004; Solovjova, Upitis, 2008). In
recent years thanks to the research concerning the
musculoskeletal system, especially basing on the
theory of biomechanics and patho-biomechanics, the
diagnostic principles of the early functional disorders
of the musculoskeletal system and correction
algorithms of different functional disorders have
changed (Vasilyeva, Michailov, 1995; Васильева,
1999; Solovjova, 2004). The aim of this study was
to measure different postural changes across three
sports: swimming, basketball, ice-hockey. It is
expected that the athletes within the sports will have
similar postural changes but between the sports have
different postural changes due to areas of strength
required by each physical activity. In accordance
with К.Левит (1997) we hypothesise that ice-hockey
and basketball players will demonstrate a lowercross
and swimmers will demonstrate an uppercross. Also
by using the test data as a base, it should be possible
to show early posture changes and to carry out a
programme of prophylaxis and/or correction.
Methods
Fifty-nine athletes in Latvia: 20 swimmers, 20 icehockey
players and 19 basketball players aged 14-17
and having different preparation level were examined.
Tests were completed using methods by L. Vasiljeva
(1996) for visual diagnotics and by V. Janda, 1994,
H.Kendall, F.Kendall, 1982, for muscular functional
testing. From these methods a diagnostic program was
developed, which included measuring the changes
of 8 sagital points from the vertical plane along with
functional testing of 11 muscle groups.
Express-diagnostics of posture statics. The
following points were marked on the athlete: the
external ear opening, acromion, radial point, outer
points of the palm, the highest point of the iliac crest,
the trochanter, the upper end of the fibula bone and
outer ankle. The subject stood at a vertical wall. The
distance from the marked point to the vertical wall
on the right and left side was measured.
Stating of the centre of gravity. To state the
athletes’ centre of gravity to the body vertical line,
as well as the deviation of the centre of gravity from
the vertical, the Digital Balance Analyzer (DBA –
Sweden) was used. The testing was done inside