Prevalencia de escoliosis, dominancia manual lateral y transporte de material en una población masculina de 6-12 años

This research study evaluated the relationship between scoliosis and a set of variables related to age, motor skills (left-handed or right-handed) and the method of transporting school supplies (backpack or trolley) among a school-aged male population. The final selection of the sample - comprising 682 participants between 6 and 12 years old and residents in Granada (Spain) - was conducted by sampling in response to a natural composition of the groups. Several measurement instruments (such as Edinburgh Handedness Inventory, Adam's test and a questionnaire) were applied in order to collect the selected variables. The results indicated that 9.4% (n = 64) of the boys suffered from scoliosis, 10% (n= 73) were left-handed and 58.2% used a backpack for the transportation of school supplies. No statistically significant difference was found between the deviation of the spine and lateral dominance nor between the transportation of school supplies and deviation of the spine; however the results showed a connection between age and incidence of scoliosis (p= 0.03) as well as between age and the method of transporting school supplies (p= 0.00), mainly due to sociocultural habits. In conclusion, there is no connection between suffering scoliosis and left-handedness, nor between the method of transporting school supplies and the incidence of scoliosis. However, these results could vary at older ages and, therefore, programs aimed at teaching good ergonomic guidelines and preventing the pathology of the spine in schoolchildren and adults are highly encouraged in order to improve their quality of life.