SELF-ESTEEM AND POSTURE: AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM OF PEDAGOGIC AND POSTURAL TRAINING

Abstract

SELF-ESTEEM AND POSTURE: AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM OF PEDAGOGIC AND POSTURAL TRAINING Bellafiore, M.1,3, Battaglia, G.1,3, Caramazza, G.2,3, Storniolo,F.1, Costantino, D.3, Bianco, A.1,3, Palma, A.1,3. 1: DISMOT (Palermo, Italy), 2: PhD in “Human Diet and Nutri- tion” (Palermo, Italy), 3: Regional Sport School of Sicily CONI (Olympic National Italian Committee, Italy). Introduction It is known that exists a strong interaction between psycho-emotional aspects and postural system. A deficit in self-esteem can be associated with an altered conception of own body imagine which reflects itself in the behavior and posture of the person. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a program of body pedagogy and postural recovery on thoracic hyperciphosis and low level of self-esteem in adolescents. Methods Ten female subjects (age: 15.5 ± 1.4 years; weight: 56.0 ± 5.1 kg; height: 160 ± 3.0 cm; BMI: 21.9 ± 1.8) and ten male subjects (age: 15.3 ± 1.8 years; weight: 67.3 ± 5.8 kg; height: 170 ± 4.0 cm; BMI: 21.9 ± 1.8) with thoracic hyperciphosis (Cobb angle: 45-55°) and low level of self-esteem (PSDQ index < 2) were selected from a center of global postural re-education and recruited to participate in a 6- month training program for 1 hour 6 times per week. In particular, 3 hours/week were addressed to treatment of postural alteration through the application of Pilates, Mezieres and RPG methods; while the other 3 hours/week were aimed at the body education using Feldenkrais and Gendlin methods. Before, during (3 months) and after 6 months of training program, ciphotic curve and self-esteem level were assessed measuring Cobb angle and with Physical Self-Description Questionnaire (PSDQ) respectively (Marsh, 1996). One-way ANOVA test with Bonferroni’s correction was used to analyze significant differences (p<0.05). Results After 3 and 6 months of body edu- cation and postural recovery, we found a significant reduction in Cobb angle in both genders (p<0.001), who did not show any difference between them (p>0.05). This structural modification was associated with an increase in the self-esteem level in both groups; however, the growth trend was significantly different between the two genders. In particular, we noticed that self-esteem was higher in female than male adolescents after 3 months (p<0.001); while in men increased more in the 3-6 month period (p<0.05). Discussion The results of our study indicate that there is a similar response to our program of body pedagogy and postural recovery by two genders as concern to the morphological features but different in the psycho-emotional aspects. This program can be a helpful method for reducing either postural alterations in brief time and the risk of relapses in adolescents because it has positive effects on self-esteem, one of the factors contributing to postural habits. References Marsh H.W. (1996) Res Q Exerc Sport, 67, 249-64.