2025 Volume 52 Issue 5 Pages 259-266
Objective: In older people requiring minimal assistance, thoracic kyphosis posture tends to be exacerbated by walking. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors influencing the change in the thoracic kyphosis angle with walking. A total of 105 older people requiring minimal assistance participated in the study.
Method: Multiple regression analysis was conducted using the change in the thoracic kyphosis angle as the dependent variable. Independent variables included spinal alignment (thoracic kyphosis angle and lumbar lordosis angle), joint range of motion (thoracic extension, lumbar extension, and hip extension), muscle strength (erector spinae, iliopsoas, and quadriceps), and the presence of slow waves (erector spinae and quadriceps muscles). Age, sex, and comorbid conditions were adjusted as covariates.
Results: Significant predictors included sex (β=0.30), osteoporosis (β=0.24), lumbar extension range of motion (β=−0.22), hip extension range of motion (β=−0.28), quadriceps strength (β=0.25), erector spinae slow wave (β=0.22), and quadriceps slow wave (β=0.19).
Conclusion: The thoracic kyphosis angle was more likely to increase in women and those with osteoporosis and less likely to increase with greater lumbar and hip extension ranges of motion and stronger quadriceps strength. Conversely, fatigue of the erector spinae and quadriceps muscles tended to increase the thoracic kyphosis angle during walking.
