Postural and Shoulder Function Norms

Postural and Shoulder Function Norms Among Normal-Weight Children in Saudi Arabia: A Comparative Study With Obese School-Aged Peers

Musculoskeletal development during childhood is influenced by several factors, including age, body composition, and physical activity. However, normative data regarding shoulder joint parameters and upper body posture among school-aged children in Saudi Arabia are lacking, particularly in relation to body mass index (BMI).

Objective: This study aims to establish normative reference values for shoulder joint mobility and upper body postural alignment in Saudi male school children, and to investigate the influence of BMI and age on these musculoskeletal parameters.

This study will provide foundational normative data for shoulder and upper body posture among school-aged children in Saudi Arabia and clarify the musculoskeletal impact of excess weight. The findings will support early screening and intervention strategies in pediatric populations.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Normal
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: forward head posture angle

Detailed Description

A cross-sectional analytical study will be conducted among 384 Saudi male students, aged 6 to 17 years, recruited from six randomly selected schools in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Participants will be stratified by BMI categories (normal, overweight, and obese) and age groups. Outcome measures will include forward head posture angle, shoulder slope angle, scapular downward rotation, and dorsal kyphosis. Other assessments will comprise shoulder pain intensity, functional disability, shoulder range of motion, and isometric strength. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize demographic and clinical characteristics. A factorial multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) will be performed to assess the influence of BMI and age on the musculoskeletal parameters. Additionally, odds ratios (ORs) will be calculated to determine the association between obesity and postural abnormalities. Data will be analyzed using SPSS software version 26), with a significance level set at p < 0.05.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 384

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Saudi Arabia
  • Ta'if, Saudi Arabia
    • King Faisal Medical Complex

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

384 Saudi male students, aged 6 to 17 years, recruited from six randomly selected schools in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Participants will be stratified by BMI categories (normal, overweight, and obese) and age groups.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Saudi male students, aged 6 to 17 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• shoulder injuries previous shoulder surgery scoliosis

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
shoulder pain intensity	measured on pain scale (visual analogue scale) from 0 (no pain ) to 10 (untolerable pain)	one month

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
functional disability	functional disability measured using shoulder disability index where higher scores indicates more disability	one month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lincoln University College

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): November 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 15, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 15, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 29, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 29, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 15, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: body mass index, isometric strength, range of motion, shoulder posture, school children.
• Other Study ID Numbers: LUCMalaysia2

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No