Comparison of posture and muscle stiffness between adolescent boys with haemophilia and age-matched healthy peers: An observational comparative study.

Background: Haemophilic arthropathy is likely to influence posture and muscle stiffness in adolescent male haemophilia patients (HP).

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible change in upright standing posture and stiffness of the superficial postural muscles in HP.

Methods: Twenty-two HP aged between 12 and 19 years and twenty-two healthy peers were included in the study. The photogrammetry was used to assess the upright standing posture from sagittal and frontal planes. Also, stiffness of the superficial postural muscles was evaluated using the myotonometry.

Results: A significant difference was found in the craniovertebral, lumbar lordosis, knee flexion-valgus, and ankle plantar flexion angles between the groups (p< 0.05). Craniovertebral, knee flexion, and knee valgus angles were lower; whereas lumbar lordosis and ankle plantar flexion angles were higher in HP compared to the healthy peers. Stiffness of the rectus femoris muscle was lower in HP (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: This study revealed that the ankle, knee, lumbar, and craniovertebral segments' posture angles were changed and the stiffness of the rectus femoris muscle decreased in HP. Postural alterations and reduced rectus femoris stiffness should be considered in management of the musculoskeletal complications of haemophilia.