Comparisons of incidence of spinal and lower extremity deformities according to the physical characteristics between sports major and nonmajor college students

This research was performed to identify the incidence of spinal and lower extremity deformity and to identify the relationship of the incidence between the physical characteristics. One hundred forty-seven Physical Education major students and 54 nonmajor students participated in this study. Data collecting was performed by questionnaire and visual postural evaluation. The incidences of genu varus (P<0.00001), genu recurvatum (P=0.0007), forward head (P<0.00001), lordosis (P<0.00001), and scoliosis (P=0.0008) were significantly lower in non-major students compared to major students. The incidences of genu varus (P=0.0017), leg length discrepancy (P=0.0015), and forward head (P=0.005) were significantly greater in women than their counterpart. However, in genu recurvatum (P<0.00001), kyphosis (P=0.0001), and lordosis (P=0.0024), the incidences were significantly lower in women. Overweight (body mass index [BMI]>24.5 kg/m2) students showed significantly high incidence (4.7 times, P=0.0044) in genu varus compared to students with normal BMI, and revealed significantly low incidence in genu recurvatum (P=0.0047) and protruding abdomen (P=0.0002).