Efficacy of physical therapy on cervical muscle activity and on body posture in school-age mouth breathing children.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

The mouth breathing resulting from nasal obstruction has been highly incident, mostly as a consequence of allergic rhinitis. In children, such condition is more concerned because it causes alteration during their development, which may generate deformities.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of a program of combined postural exercise and breathing, on the cervical muscles and body posture in school-age mouth breathing children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Nineteen mouth breathing children, mean age of 10.6 years, both genders, were recruited either from a public school or from a speech-therapy service. The evaluation procedures were electromyographic recordings from the sternocleidomastoid (SCM), sub-occipitals (SOC) and upper trapezius (UT) muscles and computerized photographic analysis pre and post-treatment. The subjects were submitted to a 12-week of a Physical Therapy Program (PTP) consisted by (a) muscular stretching and strengthening exercises using a Swiss ball combined to (b) naso-diaphragmatic re-education.

RESULTS:

There was a significant reduction (p<0.05) in the electrical activity on the assessed muscles during quiet position (5, 19 and 7.1% to 3, 2 and 10.3% for SCM, SOC and UT, respectively) and aligned posture (7, 19 and 8% to 4, 9 and 2.6% for SCM, SOC and UT, respectively) after treatment. Improvement in the postural deviation, especially reduction in forward head posture and abducted scapula were demonstrated in the computerized photographic analysis.

CONCLUSION:

A combination of postural and breathing exercises was effective in restoring muscle imbalances and posture in a group of school-age mouth breathing children, as measured by changes in electrical activity and positional data.

• Authors: Eliane C R Corrêa, Fausto Bérzin
• Journal: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology (Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol) Vol. 71 Issue 10 Pg. 1527-35 (Oct 2007) ISSN: 0165-5876 [Print] Ireland
• PMID: 17659787 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Child
• Electromyography
• Female
• Humans
• Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
• Male
• Mouth Breathing (epidemiology)
• Neck Muscles (physiology)
• Physical Therapy Modalities
• Posture
• Treatment Outcome