The aim of this study was to observe the body alignment of young athletes practicing athletics and analyze the combination of such patterns within and between groups of this modality. The sample was composed of 63 athletes of both sexes and the postural analysis protocol was based on observation and photographic record with markings on bone's accidents to verify the alignment of these structures. The segments considered in the analysis were: trunk, pelvis, knee and ankle. The Goodmann's test for contrasts between and within binomial proportions was used for data analysis. The results showed that jumpers (58.33%) and throwers/launchers (50.00%) presented the trunk in more balanced position than resistance athletes (5.56%). At the hip region, throwers/ launchers presented predominance of pelvis with left rotation (66.67%), while in jumpers was observed high frequencies for pelvic anteversion (58,33%). The knee observation revealed that resistance athletes presented normality and recurvatum, valgus in throwers/ launchers (50,00%) and varus for the other groups. For the ankle, except for jumpers, all groups showed predominance of valgism. It is concluded that to reach the specific characteristics of each population, different levels of posture are established.
posture; adolescent; sports
