The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the parametres of the spine (total mobility of dorsolumbar spine and lumbar part of spine), to find out the changes of dynamic and isometric abdominal muscle endurance, dynamic and isometric back extensor muscle endurance, and isometric endurance of scapula muscle, the mobility of the shoulders and the pain severity in adolescents with Scheuermann disease and those who have postural kyphosis. 30 adolescents ( 16 boys and 14 girls ) with age of 13-17 years old were taking part in this study. Fifteen with Scheuermann’s disease went physiotherapy in rehabilitation center. The other fifteen with postural kyphosis did the same exercise programm at home. All of them exercised 22 days, 40 minutes a day. Such methods as spine flexibility measurement, Schober’s sign, tests for evaluating the strength of dynamic and isometric abdominal and back extensor muscle endurance, scapula muscle isometric endurance, shoulders mobility test, pain functional index and pain scale were used. CONCLUSION: After kinesitherapy treatment Patients with postural kyphosis had bigger mobility. But endurance of muscle strength increased more for the patients with Scheuermann‘s disease using kinesitherapy method.Pain Index and pain scale results after kinesitherapy dicreased more for the patients with Scheuermann‘s disease.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between developmental milestones of babies and the prevalence of spinal deformities in adolescents in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. The relationship between spinal deformities in a cross-sectional group of adolescents and parental recall was the focus of the study. One hundred and four adolescents were evaluated to determine if a spinal deformity was present. The subjects were then allocated to either the case (those with spinal deformities) or the control (subjects without spinal deformities) groups. The mothers of the subjects were then interviewed with regard to some of the developmental milestones of their offspring, and other factors which may have had an influence on the development of adolescent spinal deformities. The results showed that a perfectly "normal spine" was seldom found and that even in the control group some minor deviations, within normal limits, were present. Most of the mothers of subjects from the case group did not realise that their offspring had a deformity. There was a non¬significant trend for more crawlers to be present in the control group. Subjects who did not crawl, and who were also late walkers appeared to have an increased tendency to develop adolescent spinal deformities. Despite the fact that the schools approached were multi-racial, only white parents responded to the request for participation in this trial. The possible reasons for this should be investigated and a trial comparing the prevalence of spinal deformities amongst adolescents from all ethnic groups in South Africa should be conducted. Due to the possible recall bias of this study, it is recommended that a longitudinal study, commencing with the babies attending baby clinics in South Africa (representative of the South Africa population), be conducted to determine the influence of developmental milestones on the prevalence of spinal deformities in adolescence. / Dissertation (MPhysiotherapy)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Physiotherapy / unrestricted