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Sport Sciences for Health
Published in: Sport Sciences for Health 3/2017

01-12-2017 | Original Article

Is postural asymmetry associated with emotional stability in healthy subjects? A preliminary study

Authors: Angela Notarnicola, Fabrizio Perroni, Giuseppe Maccagnano, Antonio Monno, Nicola Fiorentino, Silvio Tafuri, Biagio Moretti

Published in: Sport Sciences for Health | Issue 3/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

Considering that musculo-skeletal system and nervous system reciprocally are connected by the presence of proprioceptors and interoceptors, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between emotional stability and posture.

Methods

We recruited 100 healthy volunteers (age 30.2 ± 9.8 years) who regularly practiced physical activity, and we evaluated posture (vertical line of Barrè) and emotional stability (a specific component of the Big Five Questionnaire—BFQ). Chi-square test was used to evaluate the distribution of the postural evaluation by sex. ANOVA with Bonferroni correction was used to evaluate the differences of the BFQ in the groups of Barrè (ascending, descending, mixed, and disharmonic). A multiple regression models was set to assess the factors related to gender, age, and posture. P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

In 86 subjects, we found asymmetric posture expressed by malalignment of the Barrè line with respect to the median line. Control of Emotion did not differ between the different groups in Barrè assessment test (p = 0.07), but for Impulse Control, there were significant differences between mixed and descending and between mixed and neutral posture (p = 0.03). In emotional stability, we observed significant differences between mixed and descending and mixed and neutral (p = 0.02). The subjects who had greater control of emotions and impulses had a mixed or a descending-type posture of the vertical evaluation in the Barrè test (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Emotional stability was associated with postural adjustment, affecting, in particular, the cervical spine and legs. We could hypothesize that symmetrical posture is not necessarily related to psychological balance, while asymmetric posture may represent a sign of good control of emotions and impulses.
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Metadata
Title
Is postural asymmetry associated with emotional stability in healthy subjects? A preliminary study
Authors
Angela Notarnicola
Fabrizio Perroni
Giuseppe Maccagnano
Antonio Monno
Nicola Fiorentino
Silvio Tafuri
Biagio Moretti
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer Milan
Published in
Sport Sciences for Health / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 1824-7490
Electronic ISSN: 1825-1234
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-017-0381-6

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