INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a nutritional disorder that may trigger numerous dysfunctions in the locomotor system, particularly in the spine. Abdominal fat storage in obese provokes postural alterations associated with an increased risk of dysfunction in the spine stabilizing muscles, becoming an important cause to the appearing of instability on this segment. OBJECTIVES: This study has had as its main objective to accomplish a bibliographic survey about alteration on the spinal column and the diagnosis and treatment of the vertebral segmental instability and postural in an obese individual. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data bases MEDLINE, PubMed, LILACS, COCHRANE and SciELO were used as a source of research, as well as the following descriptors: obesity, abdominal fat, stabilization, vertebral spinal column and posture. Articles edited between 2000 and 2010 in English, Spanish and Portuguese were included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: From the analyses of such productions it was possible to find out that obese individuals have a predisposition to postural alterations, principally lumbar hyperlordosis and to the developing of spinal column instability as a result of the deposition of adipose tissue in the abdomen. Besides, it was possible to realize that the pressure biofeedback unit is a cheap, practical and useful device which can be used both in evaluation and the treatment of instability in an obese individual and that the technique of vertebral segmental stabilization (VSE) promotes the specific training of the muitifidus and transversal muscles, permitting the restoration of the lumbar stability, better posture and relief from the painful symptomatology which attacks the spinal column of obese individuals.
Obesity; Abdominal fat; Stabilization; Vertebral spinal column; Posture
