Abstract
Objective: A decline in physical activity and changes in play behaviors have been observed in recent years among elementary school children. This study aimed to clarify the associations between individual differences in physical functions and musculoskeletal dysfunctions, including squatting difficulty, pain during trunk flexion and extension, limb pain or movement difficulty, and postural asymmetry, in elementary school children.
Methods: In total, 308 students in grades 1–6 at a private elementary school in Japan who underwent musculoskeletal screening in 2025 were included in this study. Degree of obesity, grip strength, standing forward flexion, and side-step agility were the physical indicators assessed in this study. Squatting difficulty, pain during trunk flexion and extension, limb pain, and postural asymmetry were also recorded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the associations between physical functions and musculoskeletal dysfunctions.
Results: Notably, degree of obesity (odds ratio: 2.45 [1.61–3.73]) was associated with squatting difficulty, and age in months (odds ratio: 0.54 [0.33–0.90]) and sex (odds ratio: 0.19 [0.05–0.65]) were associated with pain during trunk extension.
Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that obesity, are associated with motor dysfunctions, necessitating careful consideration and selection of follow-up interventions after musculoskeletal health screening.
