Influence of Kyphotic Posture on the Body Composition Components of Healthy Adults

Abstract

[Purpose] To clarify the effect of a kyphotic posture on the measured values of body composition. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were 50 healthy males. Body compositions were measured and calculated for three postures: normal posture (N); kyphotic posture, index of kyphosis 19.4±2.0, artificially induced by a jig and normal height (KN), and the kyphotic posture and the kyphotic posture height (KH). [Results] No significant differences in any of the measures were found for the N and KN postures. For the KH posture, the somatic fat mass was significantly higher, and the lean body mass, appendicular muscle and skeletal mass, and the skeletal muscle index were significantly lower than those of the other postures. [Conclusion] Decrease in height due to kyphosis affects body composition measurements, and for cases with large kyphotic deformity, estimation of normal height is recommended.