The Relationship of Selected Strength and Flexibility Variables to the Antero-posterior Posture of College Women

Abstract The sample consisted of 92 undergraduate women who were individually photographed to assess their antero-posterior body alignment. The subjects were given seven tests of strength and five tests of flexibility. The findings show that strength balance in the selected muscle groups is an important variable in antero-posterior posture. An analysis of linearity revealed that some of the variables of this study are linear while others are curvilinear, indicating that exclusive use of linear statistics tends to underestimate the nature of some of the relationships involved in antero-posterior posture. Evidence was obtained that would lend support to treatment procedures utilized in current posture-education programs. The findings further demonstrated the neutralizing effect of the counterforce of one muscle group on another in order to maintain the balance of body segments over the base of support.