Kyphosis in youth female volleyball players

The study involved a total of 130 adolescent female volleyball athletes, with a mean age of 13.56 years, average height of 166.3 cm, mean body weight of 56.04 kg, and an average training experience of 3.33 years. All participants had been regularly attending volleyball training sessions for one year or more at volleyball infrastructure clubs. In order to identify asymmetries, five-directional photographs were taken in the anterior, posterior, and lateral planes using the APECS Al Posture Evaluation and Correction System - Posture Analysis Pro Plus 8.4.11 Version for analysis. To determine the thoracic segment of the participants, the Flexible Ruler Measurement Method was employed. The Baseline Scoliometers were used to assess the degree of scoliosis, and the Dynamo-Lite Isometric Force and Joint Range of Motion Measurement Device was utilized to measure joint range of motion. When the findings obtained from the study were analysed, a significant correlation was found between training time and kyphosis index (r= ,177). It was determined that the body mass index scores and training duration of the participants predicted the kyphosis index scores by 8% (R2=,08). In conclusion, training duration was found to be a triggering factor on kyphosis index in adolescent female volleyball players. Therefore, it is recommended to regulate this effect with corrective exercise programmes in adolescent training periodisation and to perform core-based strengthening exercises for the upper extremity in addition to periodisation. Keywords: posture, kyphosis, dysfunction, scoliosis, range of motion (ROM), volleyball, sport