PREVALENCE OF KNEE VALGUS IN CHILDREN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND BODY MASS INDEX Nathalia Hupsel Silva de Castro, Maíra Benício Sobrinho

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of knee valgus in children and its relationship with the practice of physical activities and body mass index (BMI). For this purpose, an analytical, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted in which 42 children from a school in Cubatão-SP were evaluated. A sociodemographic questionnaire with specifications regarding the practice of physical activities was applied. To identify changes in genu valgum in children, the Q angle was measured using the Software for Postural Assessment (SAPO). BMI was classified according to the percentile. This study showed that the prevalence of knee valgus in the population studied was identified in more than half of the sample (n = 22; 52.4%). And that there was a relationship between knee valgus and BMI, with a positive and weak relationship being observed (r = 0.335; p = 0.030). Thus, it can be concluded that the presence of this musculoskeletal alteration of the lower limb in genu valgum is related to BMI, showing that the higher the BMI, the greater the presence of knee valgum. However, it was not possible to observe a relationship between the practice of physical activity and knee valgus.