Postural and Musculoskeletal Assessment of Iranian National Shooting Team Athletes

Objective This study aimed to investigate and compare the postural and musculoskeletal status of male and female athletes on the Iranian national shooting team.Identifying potential abnormalities and understanding gender-specific differences within this elite population can help inform necessary strategies for improving and maintaining musculoskeletal health, as well as optimizing athletic performance in shooting.Methods This applied, cross-sectional, and comparative study was conducted on 32 athletes (16 females and 16 males) from the Iranian national shooting team, each with at least five years of membership and national championship titles.Postural and musculoskeletal abnormalities-including lateral head deviation, uneven shoulders, scoliosis, lateral pelvic tilt, ankle eversion, forward head posture, kyphosis, sway-back posture, abdominal ptosis, lumbar lordosis, genu varum, genu valgum, pes planus, pes cavus, and intoeing-were assessed using the New York Posture Rating Chart, a posture grid, a plumb line, and calipers.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test, with significance set at P 0.05.Results A statistically significant difference was observed between male and female athletes only in the prevalence of lateral head deviation (P = 0.025), which was more common among males.No significant gender differences were found in other postural or musculoskeletal abnormalities.Most athletes exhibited normal posture in indicators such as scoliosis, kyphosis, and lateral pelvic tilt.However, conditions like lumbar lordosis, genu varum, and pes planus were observed in both groups, though without significant gender-based differences.Conclusion Elite male and female athletes of the Iranian national shooting team generally demonstrate favorable postural and musculoskeletal health.Nevertheless, the higher prevalence of lateral head deviation in males and the presence of abnormalities such as lordosis and lower limb deviations in both sexes merit attention.Regular screening, early detection of abnormalities, and implementation of targeted corrective interventions are essential for injury prevention, health maintenance, and performance enhancement in competitive shooters.