Effects of Spine Mat Use on the Interscapular Distance of Children in the Upright Position

• Published in: Rigaku ryoho kagaku 2023, Vol.38(4), pp.268-272
• Main Authors: KOYAMA, Koji, ICHIBA, Tomomi, FURUSHIMA, Kozo, SUGANO, Yoshinori, NIITSU, Azusa, KODACHI, Yuka, NIINO, Sosuke, UENO, Mayumi, ADACHI, Kazutaka
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; jpn
• Subjects: elementary school students; interscapular distance; sagittal spinal alignment
• ISSN: 1341-1667; 2434-2807
• DOI: 10.1589/rika.38.268

[Purpose] In this study, we examined how the interscapular distance of children changes before and after the use of a spine mat. [Participants and Methods] The study included 83 elementary school students. Each participant was placed on a bed in the supine position, and a spine mat was inserted into the thoracic spine area. The thoracic kyphosis angle and interscapular distance were measured before and after the spine mat intervention, and the subjects were divided into excessive kyphosis and normal kyphosis groups. [Results] We observed a significant difference in the interscapular distance before and after intervention in both groups (excessive kyphosis group: 13.9 ± 1.7 cm before intervention, 13.3 ± 1.9 cm after intervention; normal kyphosis group: 13.6 ± 2.7 cm before intervention, 13.3 ± 2.7 cm after intervention). [Conclusion] The spine mat may have the immediate effect of decreasing the distance between the scapulae of children.