The Relationship Between Thoracic Kyphosis Angle And Respiratory Function Parameters in University Students

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 6, 285 - 290, 30.11.2025

Halit Çelik , Yunus Emre Kaban , Oğuzhan Bahadır Demir , Feride Taşkın Yılmaz

https://doi.org/10.16899/jcm.1776303

Abstract

Aims: Postural disorders are common health problems in the young population. This study aims to examine the relationship between thoracic kyphosis angle and respiratory function parameters in university students.
Methods: The research was conducted with 200 students enrolled in the Faculty of Health Sciences at a university between October 2024 and March 2025. The thoracic kyphosis angle was measured using the Flexicurve method, while respiratory functions were assessed via spirometry.
Results: The mean thoracic kyphosis angle of the participants was found to be 21.81±5.11°, and hypokyphosis was identified in 40% of them. A significant relationship was found between body mass index (BMI) and thoracic kyphosis angle, with lower kyphosis angles observed in underweight students (p<0.05). However, variables such as gender, presence of chronic diseases, duration of mobile phone use, knowledge about spinal health, and sitting posture were not found to have a significant effect on the kyphosis angle (p>0.05). No statistically significant relationship was observed between thoracic kyphosis angle and respiratory function parameters (p>0.05). Additionally, no difference was found in respiratory functions between students with hypokyphosis and those with normal kyphotic curvature (p>0.05).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that variations in thoracic kyphosis angle do not significantly affect respiratory capacity in young and healthy individuals. The study highlights the importance of regular posture assessments, ergonomics education, and exercise programs.

Keywords

Thoracic kyphosis , respiratory parameters , student

Ethical Statement

Before data collection, ethical approval was obtained from a university ethics committee (Approval date and number: 28.07.2022–20) and institutional permission was obtained from the university.

Supporting Institution

The authors declared that this study has received no financial support.

Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Torakal Kifoz Açısı İle Solunum Fonksiyon Parametreleri Arasındaki İlişki

Abstract

Amaçlar: Postür bozuklukları genç popülasyonda sık olarak karşılaşılan sağlık sorunlarıdır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, üniversite öğrencilerinde torakal kifoz açısı ile solunum fonksiyon parametreleri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektir.
Yöntem: Araştırma, Ekim 2024 – Mart 2025 tarihleri arasında bir üniversitenin Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi’nde öğrenim gören 200 öğrenci ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Torakal kifoz açısı Flexicurve yöntemiyle, solunum fonksiyonları ise spirometre ile ölçülmüştür.
Bulgular: Katılımcıların ortalama torakal kifoz açısı 21,81±5,11° olarak bulunmuş ve %40’ında hipokifoz tespit edilmiştir. Vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ) ile torakal kifoz açısı arasında anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmış; zayıf öğrencilerin kifoz açısı daha düşük bulunmuştur (p<0,05). Ancak, cinsiyet, kronik hastalık varlığı, telefon kullanım süresi, omurga sağlığı bilgisi ve oturma postürü gibi değişkenlerin kifoz açısı üzerinde etkisi bulunmamıştır (p>0,05). Torakal kifoz açısı ile solunum fonksiyon parametreleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki gözlenmemiştir (p>0,05). Hipokifoz ve normal kifoz eğriliğine sahip öğrencilerin solunum fonksiyonları arasında da fark saptanmamıştır (p>0,05).
Sonuçlar: Bu bulgular, genç ve sağlıklı bireylerde torakal kifoz açısındaki farklılıkların solunum kapasitesini belirgin şekilde etkilemediğini göstermektedir. Çalışma, düzenli postür değerlendirmeleri, ergonomi eğitimi ve egzersiz programlarının önemini vurgulamaktadır. Gelecek çalışmaların daha geniş örneklemlerle ve ek parametrelerle yapılması önerilmektedir.

Keywords

Torakal kifoz , solunum parametreleri , öğrenci

Ethical Statement

Verileri toplamadan önce bir üniversitenin etik kurulundan (Karar tarihi ve nosu: 28.07.2022- 20) ve çalışmanın yapıldığı kurumdan yazılı izin alınmıştır.

Supporting Institution

Yazarlar bu çalışmanın herhangi bir finansal destek almadığını beyan etmişlerdir.

References

• 1. Zappalá M, Lightbourne S, Heneghan NR. The relationship between thoracic kyphosis and age, and normative values across age groups: a systematic review of healthy adults. J Orthop Surg Res 2021;16(1):447.
• 2. Jang HJ, Hughes LC, Oh DW, Kim SY. Effects of Corrective Exercise for Thoracic Hyperkyphosis on Posture, Balance, and Well-Being in Older Women: A Double-Blind, Group-Matched Design. J Geriatr Phys Ther 2019;42(3):E17-e27.
• 3. Roghani T, Zavieh MK, Manshadi FD, King N, Katzman W. Age-related hyperkyphosis: update of its potential causes and clinical impacts-narrative review. Aging Clin Exp Res 2017;29(4):567-77.
• 4. Fon GT, Pitt MJ, Thies AC. Thoracic kyphosis: range in normal subjects. American Journal of Roentgenology 1980;134(5):979-83.
• 5. Kado DM, Huang MH, Nguyen CB, Barrett-Connor E, Greendale GA. Hyperkyphotic posture and risk of injurious falls in older persons: the Rancho Bernardo Study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2007;62(6):652-7.
• 6. Barker N, Raghavan A, Buttling P, Douros K, Everard ML. Thoracic Kyphosis is now uncommon amongst children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Front Pediatr 2014;2:11.
• 7. González-Gálvez N, Marcos-Pardo PJ, Trejo-Alfaro H, Vaquero-Cristóbal R. Effect of 9-month Pilates program on sagittal spinal curvatures and hamstring extensibility in adolescents: randomised controlled trial. Sci Rep 2020;10(1):9977.
• 8. Brzęk A, Dworrak T, Strauss M, et al. The weight of pupils’ schoolbags in early school age and its influence on body posture. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2017;18(1):117.
• 9. Mustafaoglu R, Yasaci Z, Zirek E, Griffiths MD, Ozdincler AR. The relationship between smartphone addiction and musculoskeletal pain prevalence among young population: a cross-sectional study. Korean J Pain 2021;34(1):72-81.
• 10. Takeda H, Yamashina Y, Tabira K. Relationship between kyphosis and cough strength and respiratory function of community-dwelling elderly. Physiother Theory Pract 2022;38(13):3100-7.
• 11. Çolak TK, Aptı A, Dereli EE, Akçay B. Hiperkifoz ve rehabilitasyonu. JOHESAM 2025;5(1):23-9.
• 12. Oakley PA, Ehsani NN, Harrison DE. The Scoliosis Quandary: Are Radiation Exposures From Repeated X-Rays Harmful? Dose Response 2019;17(2):1559325819852810.
• 13. Raupp EG, Candotti CT, Marchetti BV, Vieira A, Medeiros FS, Loss JF. The Validity and Reproducibility of the Flexicurve in the Evaluation of Cervical Spine Lordosis. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2017;40(7):501-10.
• 14. Graham BL, Steenbruggen I, Miller MR, et al. Standardization of Spirometry 2019 Update. An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Technical Statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019;200(8):e70-e88.
• 15. Gao Y, Liang B, Su X, et al. Reliability and usability of a portable spirometer compared to a laboratory spirometer. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2025;25(1):228.
• 16. Bakırhan S, Özkeskin M, Şahin S, Özden F. The predictors of the pulmonary function in community-dwelling older adults. JBACHS 2021;5(3):23-9.
• 17. Rahman NN, Singh DK, Lee R. Correlation between thoracolumbar curvatures and respiratory function in older adults. Clin Interv Aging 2017;12:523-9.
• 18. Karacan K, Çelik H, Erdoğan M. Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction and the thoracal kyphosis angle on medical faculty students. J Contemp Med 2021;11(1):57-61.
• 19. Fon GT, Pitt MJ, Thies AC, Jr. Thoracic kyphosis: range in normal subjects. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1980;134(5):979-83.
• 20. Culham EG, Jimenez HA, King CE. Thoracic kyphosis, rib mobility, and lung volumes in normal women and women with osteoporosis. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 1994;19(11):1250-5.
• 21. Di Bari M, Chiarlone M, Matteuzzi D, et al. Thoracic Kyphosis and Ventilatory Dysfunction in Unselected Older Persons: An Epidemiological Study in Dicomano, Italy. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2004;52(6):909-15.
• 22. Aweto HA, Adodo RI. Relationship between thoracic kyphosis and selected cardiopulmonary parameters and respiratory symptoms of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy 2021;33(4):179-86.
• 23. Özler N, Bakırhan S. Investigation of The Effect of Thoracic Kyphosis Degree on Physical Activity Level and Respiratory Function Tests. J JBACHS 2020;4(1):22-6.
• 24. Yang S, Yi YG, Chang MC. The Effectiveness of exercise programs in adolescents with thoracic kyphosis: a narrative review. Healthcare 2024;12(15):1503.
• 25. Popajewski M, Zawadka M, Wójcik-Załuska A, Milart P. Maternal parity effect on spine posture changes and back pain during pregnancy. Healthcare 2024;12(22):2202.
• 26. Shehada MS, Karimi N, Baraghoosh P, Mohammadi F, Ahmadi A. Prevalence and factors associated with postural abnormalities in male students of Tehran Universities: a cross-sectional study. Physical Treatments - Specific Physical Therapy 2023;13(2):77-86.