Prevalence of Postural Abnormalities in Dialysis Patients

Given the global rise in fall rates and associated medical costs in the past decade, it is crucial to identify factors that contribute to fall risk in order to mitigate the occurrence of falls and reduce their adverse consequences. One significant factor that increases the likelihood of falls is the presence of a balance disorder. The Forward head posture (FHP) can adversely affect one's static balance. FHP characterized by the bending forward of the lower cervical spine and the bending backward of the upper cervical spine. The prevalence of FHP rises as one gets older and has been associated with an elevated risk of falls, altered limits of stability, and changes in the musculoskeletal structures of the cervical spine. FHP can significantly impact respiratory function by weakening the muscles involved in breathing. Alterations in the positioning of the center of gravity can have a detrimental impact on the control of body balance . Balance can also be affected by thoracic hyper kyphosis, which refers to an excessive curvature of the thoracic spine. When compensation in the lumbar spine and hip region is insufficient, hyper kyphosis may shift the body's center of mass forward, leading to gait disorders and disrupted balance. Changes in posture, like thoracic hyper kyphosis and loss of lumbar lordosis arch seem to contribute to the increased postural instability and leading to a greater likelihood of falls among older adults living in the community. Hyper kyphosis may act as an indicator of an elevated risk of falls. Internationally, thoracic hyper kyphosis has a high prevalence, and studies have shown that it is associated with impaired performance in balance, gait, and cardiopulmonary function tests among older adults. The likelihood of hyper kyphosis and FHP, followed by increased falls in elderly individuals and women, is attributed to factors such as reduced physical activity, lower bone density, weaker muscles, and decreased overall body strength . Considering the presence of these conditions in dialysis patients, it is likely that these patients are also at an increased risk of kyphosis and FHP, and consequently, they face the risk of falls. The study of postural abnormalities in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) makes it possible to identify prevention and safety promotion strategies for individuals with chronic kidney disease. Thus, the objectives of this study are to identify the prevalence of forward head and hyper kyphosis as well as their adverse outcomes in people with chronic kidney disease undergoing two dialysis modalities.