Postural Changes in Children Aged 6 to 12 Years with Visual Refractive Errors

Abstract

Introduction: Refractive errors (RE) and external factors can influence posture throughout life. Objectives: To identify postural changes in children with RE and analyze whether these depend on the type of refractive error and sex. Additionally, to investigate the relationship between screen time, physical activity (PA), and postural changes. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 30 children (6–12 years old) of both sexes. Postural assessment was performed using SAPO, and parents answered a questionnaire about their children's lifestyle. The Mann-Whitney test compared postural changes between different types of RE, and Spearman’s correlation analyzed the relationship between postural alignment, screen time, and PA (frequency and duration). Results: Identified postural changes included forward head posture, anterior pelvic tilt, knee hyperextension, possible scoliosis, and anterior projection of the center of gravity, regardless of the type of RE. A relationship was found between PA and iliac spine alignment in the frontal plane, with a higher prevalence of valgus knee in girls. Conclusion: Children with RE present postural changes regardless of the type of refractive error. Additionally, PA is associated with pelvic and knee alignment. However, the identified relationships are limited due to the cross-sectional study design.