POSTURE CORRECTION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS USING MANUAL TECHNIQUES

A high prevalence of postural deviations is confirmed by the literature and considering the risk factors that can manifest in adolescents, an efficient method of intervention, that can be used on every type of patient, is important to be available to the therapist, taking into account the lack of a pro-active behaviour dominant in today society. 
The purpose of this study is to check if the therapeutic intervention carried out through manual techniques can improve the body alignment at the level of the spine.
The subjects of this study were 20 14 to 16 years old high school students, from which 8 females and 12 males.
Materials and method: The participants were evaluate using the KINEOD posturograph that utilizes infrared acquisition technology to provide a complete 3D postural analysis. An intervention program based on osteopathic manual technics, made by 10 sessions, was applied over a course of 3 months, and then the participants were reevaluated. The data received from the software of the KINEOD posturograph was analyzed and interpreted statistically, and the results were presented as tables and graphs. 
Conclusions: Results indicate that the intervention program used generated a numerical positive outcome in all four parameters evaluated, and in 2 of them the difference is statistically significative (“Shoulder imbalance” – P=0.007, “C7 deviation - Barré Vertical” – P= 0.049). From this we can conclude that manual technics can be used successfully in correction of the posture at spinal level.