Assessing children’s posture and overview of increasing their physical activity : a systematized literature review and guidebook for physiotherapy students

School physiotherapy and it possibly being a clinical practice placement for physiotherapy students is still in the future. This thesis was made to provide for the future physiotherapists and students an information package about the possible topics that the job might entail. Topic of posture assessment and promotion of movement were chosen from the Fysioterapeutit Kouluille – project and an interview made with the Etelä-Karjala healthcare services school physiotherapy project leader. Theory part of this thesis includes basics of posture and common postural abnormalities. Second part is focusing on promotion of movement, because being more physically active is associated with better posture. For the systematized review part two randomized control trials were selected. Studies were evaluated to be fair level of evidence with using PEDro scale criteria. According to the review, interventions done in the schools didn’t have significant effect on increasing children’s physical activity levels or reducing back pain. Any huge conclusions cannot be made based on the results of this thesis. Further research is needed on increasing children’s physical activity and maybe the interventions should be targeted to other sectors than schools. Part of this thesis was to provide learning material, guidebook, for physiotherapy students who would in the future have their clinical practices in schools. Guidebook would be based on theory part and systematized literature review. The information that guidebook will offer is how to assess posture and scoliosis, what to do with common postural abnormalities, benefits of physical activity, and tools and ideas to increase it