**5. Conclusion**

weight of a student, ranges from 12.5 to 13.8%. A specified, heavier load in a backpack affects the growth and development of the child because the child's locomotor system is not fully developed. In research by different authors around the world and in Croatia, they mention this problem of overly heavy school bags as one of the common factors that are responsible for the development of incorrect

*Safety and Health for Workers - Research and Practical Perspective*

Besides the backpack, scientists also mention that school furniture is not being adapted to the growth and development of the children in classroom. This stated that lordosis is a curvature of the spine whose convexity is facing forward. This curvature is present in the cervical and lumbar parts of the spine and has a strong

Kyphosis is more present in male students from urban areas, and lordosis is more present in female students than the students from rural areas. A rise in kyphotic diagnoses indicates a sudden growth and development of the skeleton, a lack of strength in the back muscles, an absence of physical hygiene, insufficient physical activity, as well as a lack of the preventive-corrective exercising models [15, 25]. The results of the research have shown that there was a difference in the students from the first to the fourth grade in elementary schools who had presented symptoms related to kyphosis. Two hundred and forty-six (56.5%) students from

Out of 299 examinees, 136 (45.48%) examinees were male, and 163 (54.52%)

It was determined that, out of 258 examined boys, 142 or 55%, and 111 girls or 43.8% from urban areas, there was an increased thoracic curve (kyphosis) on the spine compared to students from rural areas. The kyphosis chart, depending on the degree of development, focuses on certain characteristics which include mainly the gender of the examinees as well as the type of living environment. It was proven that, in all of the students, the functional disorders were the most present. With the boys, the value is Rf = 73.9 and with the girls Rf = 81.1. Incomplete fixated disorders made up 25.4% of the cases in the boys and 100% of the cases in the girls. The most difficult form or the so-called fixated kyphosis included only one boy (0.4%) [28]. In measuring the postural disorders of the spine, the researchers determined that

examinees were female. Kyphosis in the male examinees from urban areas was significantly more present (62.02%) than in the case of female examinees

out of the total number of 320 examinees, 146 students (46%) had the spinal deformity (kyphosis), that is, where the silhouette is hunched forward. This indicates that the children have shoulders which are bent forward, an enhanced stoop, a recessed chest, protruding shoulder blades, a bulged and flabby stomach, and knees which are slightly bent and shifted forward. This indicates the deformity,

While measuring the postural disorders of the spine, it was determined that out of the total number of 320 students, 47 students (15%) had asymmetrical shoulders and shoulder blades. This indicates a distortion of the spine which is a sideway

While measuring spine deformities with preschool children, it was proven that the girls from urban areas had the highest deformity percentages: scoliosis (31.25%), lordosis (18.75%), and kyphosis (9.37%). The boys from urban areas had the biggest percentage of deformities: kyphosis (13.33%), scoliosis (31.25%), and lordosis

The results of this research have shown that in the students from the first to the fourth grade of elementary schools, the frequency of the spinal deformity, lordosis, was present in 9 (2.0%) students from urban areas, compared to the

physical posture and spinal deformity [23].

urban areas, compared to students from rural areas [26].

connection with kyphosis [24].

(37.98%) [27].

kyphosis [29].

(2.22%) [30].

**46**

curvature, better known as scoliosis [29].

students from rural areas [26].

Based on the obtained results of the spinal measurements, that is, before and after the realization of the program, it can be concluded that all of the spinal deformities were more present in the children from urban area than in the children from rural areas. Compared to urban children, everyday responsibilities of the village children included physical activity outside during the day as well as a balanced diet. On the other hand, urban children often ate unhealthy food from the school kitchen, such as pizza, croissants, pies, various pastries, etc.

The students are still not aware enough of their need to choose fruits and vegetables and eat less sweet food. Food with artificial flavors is easily within reach, and once they have tasted it, everything else tastes bad. This, then, negatively affects body posture and is causing deformities in an increasing number of children. It is also known that there are also other health difficulties which can arise because of bad nutrition and lifestyle. Another contributing factor to these disorders is also the fact that urban children have a harder time making new friends. They do not go outside but socialize on Facebook and are on the computer more than ever before.

The research, which compared children from the city to children from the village schools, definitely confirmed that village children have a significantly smaller percent of postural disorders of any kind [12]. Today, school children can have various means which could enhance their quality of life. There are many sport clubs, such as collective and individual sports.

While in urban surroundings there are natural resources and developed and water sports, such as some extreme sports, research in this area shows us that a large percentage of children from elementary schools do not participate in sports activities. Thus, this is the reason for the increased number of children with incorrect posture.

Spinal deformities are present to a great extent because of the way regional landscapes affect a child's spine and the child's way of life. This can be observed in everyday activities that are centered on very little body movement, overeating, and overall inappropriate nutrition. It leads to an unhealthy lifestyle. Thus, there is a need for intervention in order to change the child's behavior and help him to live out a healthier lifestyle. The goal would be to protect and enhance his health through a healthy diet and physical activity.

It is predicted that the number of these children will keep increasing if the significance of the physical activity is not taken seriously enough. Physical education in school can have a great influence on the health of the children. It needs to be understood how great the significance of the games and exercising for the health is and that it is needed by every individual. It has been proven that the frequency of the postural disorders could be significantly decreased with a well-planned corrective procedure which is carried out in the long term. It is necessary to develop an awareness that points to the need for a healthy lifestyle, which includes proper corrective exercises that work to prevent and correct one's posture. Otherwise, the consequences could be devastating not only esthetically but also in a poorer life quality which affects motor capabilities and can endanger one's overall health. That is why there is a need to have a solid, long-lasting program in conjugation with health institutions, which starts from preschool and goes up through high school and focuses on early discovery, prevention, and correction of physical disorders in children and youth. Besides the regular physical education program and sports and dance as electives, a special significance should be placed on the need to organize corrective gymnastics classes. It is very important to point out that only the early detection of the deviations from the correct physical posture is the key to success. Incorrect body postures developed because of weakened postural muscles in the earlier stages of development could be corrected with additional physical exercising programs especially if they are detected earlier on. Early diagnosis is the most important key to a successful treatment of these disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The teachers in physical and health education need to head this off by creating a plan for early detection. The program that was applied in this research had significant effects on the prevention of the postural disorders of the spine.

The applied program has easily fit into the curriculum of the school institutions. We can say that this program and many others, along with certain modifications, could be incorporated into the regular physical education program in order to decrease the number of children with these disorders. When one considers the severity and consequences of these disorders, it can be said that there is still not enough awareness among parents, teachers, and children about the necessity to take certain measures in order to prevent and correct these disorders. However, only an educated teaching staff can contribute to correcting hygiene and exercise which will accomplish the goal of correct body posture. In addition to participating in regular physical and health education classes, students should regularly exercise at home in order to positively affect their growth and development.

**Author details**

and Herzegovina

**49**

Bosnia and Herzegovina

\* and Edin Beganović<sup>2</sup>

provided the original work is properly cited.

1 Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia

*Spinal Deformities with Students in Classroom Teaching in Urban and Rural Areas*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87977*

\*Address all correspondence to: elvira.beganovic1982@gmail.com

2 Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo,

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

Elvira Nikšić<sup>1</sup>

*Spinal Deformities with Students in Classroom Teaching in Urban and Rural Areas DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87977*
