Background & Objectives: Proper height and healthy, normal spinal column and improvement of blood circulation play a crucially important role in general health of an individual. Regarding the lack of data concerning the deformities of spinal column in Zanjan, This study was carried out with the aim of determining the rate of spinal column deformities and cardio respiratory fitness in male guidance school students of Zanjan province in 2003.
Materials & Methods: This cross–sectional study was conducted on 643 male students of guidance schools who were selected through cluster random sampling. After measuring the height and weight of the students and exclusion of unhealthy students from the study the data concerning the deformities of spinal column and cardiorespiratory fitness of the students were collected through standard NewYork test , Shuttle run and YMCA method and analysed through correlation and analysis of regression.
Results: The results showed that 93.8% of the students suffered from at least one deformity of spinal column. Deformities of spinal column consist of scapula knob ( 51.49%), chest depression ( 48.7%), abdomen knob (47.9%), dropped shoulder (45.7%), scoliosis (28.1%), abdomen lordosis (24.4%), neck lordosis (19.9%), kyphosis (14.6%), asymmetric pelvis (13.8%), head crookedness (9.3%), curled back (2.3%). The maximum intake of oxygen was 46.96 ml/kg per minute. There was a significant association between lordosis and asymmetric pelvis with cardio respiratory fitness (P=0.04 ).
Conclusion: Most of the students (93.8%) suffered from at least one deformity of spinal column . This shows the necessity of paying particular attention to physical training and measures to prevent and control these disorders.