THE POSTURE OF THE TRUNK IN THE SAGITTAL PLANE AND THE SHAPE OF FEET IN OLDER WOMEN WITH NORMAL AND EXCESSIVE BODY WEIGHT

The aim of this study has been to determine the relationship between the shape of the thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis and sagittal trunk inclination, and the longitudinal and transverse arches of the feet, the position of the hallux and the fifth toe in women with normal and excessive body weight. Material and methods: Eighty nine women aged from 57 to 84 were studied. The shape of the spine was examined using the Zebris pointer ultrasound system, and the shape of feet was evaluated with a podoscope with a 3D scanner. The data analysis was performed using the Statistica v13 software, frequency tables, descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis test, the post hoc Tukey test, and Spearman’s rank-order correlations coefficient. Obesity has been reported to increase thoracic kyphosis, increase the forward lean of the trunk and flatten the longitudinal arch of the feet. It was found that there is a relationship between the forward lean of the body and the reduction in the longitudinal and transverse arch of the feet and the valgus position of the hallux, and between the degree of thoracic kyphosis and the valgus position of the hallux. Excess body weight, to a greater extent than age, influences the position of the trunk and the shape of feet in older women. A feature of the body posture that is characteristic of older women is the progression of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis, the forward lean of the body and the lowering of the arch of the feet.