Body Mass Index and Elbow Range of Motion in a Healthy Pediatric Population: A Possible Mechanism of Overweight in Children

Índice de masa corporal y amplitud de movimiento en el codo en una Pediátrica Población saludable: un posible mecanismo de sobrepeso en niños

Este artículo es publicado originalmente en:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252045/

 De:

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. Author manuscript; available in PMC Jan 5, 2012.
Published in final edited form as:
PMCID: PMC3252045
NIHMSID: NIHMS339311

Body Mass Index and Elbow Range of Motion in a Healthy Pediatric Population: A Possible Mechanism of Overweight in Children

The publisher’s final edited version of this article is available at J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr
See other articles in PMC that cite the published article.
 

Abstract

Background

Childhood overweight has become a serious health problem among children and adolescents in the United States. No previous study, to our knowledge, has analyzed the effect of body mass index (BMI) on range of motion and carrying angle of the elbow joint in a healthy pediatric population. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of BMI on orthopedic parameters of the elbow joint, including range of motion, flexion, extension, and carrying angle.

Study Participants and Methods

Healthy children age 2 to 18 years (mean 12.0 ± 3.9 years) were recruited at an urban pediatric orthopedic clinic as pediatric orthopedic patients or as the siblings or friends of patients. Measures of range of motion (flexion and extension) and carrying angle of 226 elbows and of BMI from 113 study participants were analyzed.

Results

BMI was negatively correlated with right and left elbow range of motion (r = −0.54, P <0.01; r = −0.43, P<0.01) and right and left elbow flexion (r = −0.59, P <0.01; r = −0.50, P <0.01). BMI had a positive correlation with right elbow extension (r = 0.20, P = 0.04). BMI did not correlate with left elbow extension or right or left carrying angle. After adjustment for age, sex, and ethnic group, BMI was associated with right (P <0.01) and left (P <0.01) elbow range of motion.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that increased BMI in children is negatively correlated with range of motion of the elbow joint. Further studies are needed to evaluate the consequences of impaired range of motion associated with overweight on activity levels and energy expenditure in growing children and adolescents.
Keywords: Pediatric, Body mass index, Orthopedic surgery, Anthropometric, Elbow joint, Range of motion, Childhood overweight, Obesity
 
Antecedentes

El sobrepeso infantil se ha convertido en un grave problema de salud entre los niños y adolescentes en los Estados Unidos. Ningún estudio anterior, a nuestro entender, se ha analizado el efecto del índice de masa corporal (IMC) en el rango de movimiento y el ángulo de carga de la articulación del codo en una población pediátrica sana. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue determinar el efecto del IMC en parámetros ortopédicas de la articulación del codo, incluyendo el rango de movimiento, flexión, extensión, y llevando ángulo.
 

Los participantes del estudio y métodos
Edad saludable niños de 2 a 18 años (media 12,0 ± 3,9 años) fueron reclutados en una clínica ortopédica pediátrica urbana como pacientes ortopédicos pediátricos o como los hermanos o amigos de los pacientes. Se analizaron las medidas de la amplitud de movimiento (flexión y extensión) y llevar ángulo de 226 codos y de IMC de 113 participantes en el estudio.
 
Resultados
El IMC se correlacionó negativamente con la derecha y el rango de movimiento del codo izquierdo (r = -0,54, p <0,01; r = -0,43, p <0,01) y la derecha y la izquierda la flexión del codo (r = -0,59, p <0,01; r = 0,50, P <0,01). IMC tuvo una correlación positiva con la extensión del codo derecho (r = 0,20; p = 0,04). IMC no se correlacionó con la extensión del codo izquierdo o derecho o ángulo de transporte izquierda. Tras ajustar por edad, sexo y grupo étnico, el IMC se asoció con la derecha (P <0,01) y la izquierda (P <0,01) rango de movimiento del codo.
 
 
Conclusiones
Estos datos demuestran que el aumento del índice de masa corporal en los niños se correlaciona negativamente con el rango de movimiento de la articulación del codo. Se necesitan más estudios para evaluar las consecuencias de la alteración de la amplitud de movimiento asociado con el sobrepeso en los niveles de actividad y el gasto de energía en crecimiento de niños y adolescentes.
Palabras clave: índice de Pediatría, masa corporal, cirugía ortopédica, antropométricas, articulación del codo, la amplitud de movimiento, Niñez sobrepeso, obesidad

Abstract

Background

Childhood overweight has become a serious health problem among children and adolescents in the United States. No previous study, to our knowledge, has analyzed the effect of body mass index (BMI) on range of motion and carrying angle of the elbow joint in a healthy pediatric population. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effect of BMI on orthopedic parameters of the elbow joint, including range of motion, flexion, extension, and carrying angle.

Study Participants and Methods

Healthy children age 2 to 18 years (mean 12.0 ± 3.9 years) were recruited at an urban pediatric orthopedic clinic as pediatric orthopedic patients or as the siblings or friends of patients. Measures of range of motion (flexion and extension) and carrying angle of 226 elbows and of BMI from 113 study participants were analyzed.

Results

BMI was negatively correlated with right and left elbow range of motion (r = −0.54, P <0.01; r = −0.43, P<0.01) and right and left elbow flexion (r = −0.59, P <0.01; r = −0.50, P <0.01). BMI had a positive correlation with right elbow extension (r = 0.20, P = 0.04). BMI did not correlate with left elbow extension or right or left carrying angle. After adjustment for age, sex, and ethnic group, BMI was associated with right (P <0.01) and left (P <0.01) elbow range of motion.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that increased BMI in children is negatively correlated with range of motion of the elbow joint. Further studies are needed to evaluate the consequences of impaired range of motion associated with overweight on activity levels and energy expenditure in growing children and adolescents.
Keywords: Pediatric, Body mass index, Orthopedic surgery, Anthropometric, Elbow joint, Range of motion, Childhood overweight, Obesity