SPEED SKATING AND POSTURAL DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Context: Body posture is of great importance for health, since it influences the disposition and functions of internal systems and organs. It is also a factor that affects stability and balance; especially in athletes, from an early age.Objective: To describe the postural changes in children and adolescents who practice speed skating in a skating club in Quito. Methodology: Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional and quantitative research. The sample was made up of 59 skaters, members of the "Legionarios Skates" Specialized Training Sports Club, during the second semester of 2022, who met the selection criteria. After obtaining the pertinent authorizations, anthropometric measurements were made as part of the postural test standardized by the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador. The results were analyzed using the free software Jamovi v2.3.26.Results: 25.4% of the skaters were male, the average age was (square: 10.4 years; SD: 3.01 years. 30.5% presented at least one postural alteration. 34% presented 2. 18.3% presented 3. 6.8% had 4 and 5.1% had up to 5 postural alterations. Only 5.1% of the athletes had a correct posture. forward shoulders were the most frequent finding (37%).Conclusion: Postural alterations among children and adolescents who practice speed skating are frequent. Through posturometry it is possible to identify them for later correction, early, without the need for imaging studies.