1.    Introduction
Optimal body posture is a cornerstone of musculoskeletal health and peak physical performance, especially in sports that demand high levels of stability, precision, and motor control (1, 3). Deviations from ideal posture—referred to as postural and musculoskeletal abnormalities—can result in imbalanced mechanical loading of joints, inefficient movement patterns, reduced athletic performance, and an increased risk of injury. For elite athletes, maintaining ideal postural alignment and musculoskeletal integrity is critical, as it directly influences the execution of sport-specific techniques and plays a key role in injury prevention. Shooting is a sport characterized by prolonged static, and often asymmetrical, postures that require exceptional body stability, mental focus, and neuromuscular coordination (12). The repetitive and sustained nature of these postures, along with asymmetrical loading caused by equipment and the need to maintain balance on a narrow base of support, can impose significant stress on the musculoskeletal system. Previous studies suggest that certain shooting stances may contribute to spinal misalignments and muscular imbalances (19). Despite the importance of these factors, comprehensive research on the postural and musculoskeletal status of elite shooters—particularly with respect to gender-specific differences—remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and compare the postural and musculoskeletal profiles of male and female athletes on the Iranian national shooting team. Identifying potential abnormalities may support the development of targeted interventions to promote musculoskeletal health and optimize athletic performance. 
2.    Methods
This cross-sectional, comparative study included 32 elite athletes (16 males and 16 females) from the Iranian national shooting team, selected through convenience sampling. All participants had a minimum of five years of national team membership and a record of podium finishes in national championships or participation in international competitions, as verified by the federation and coaching staff. Athletes with a history of musculoskeletal surgery or underlying systemic diseases were excluded. Postural and musculoskeletal assessments were conducted by an experienced examiner at the National Shooting Federation’s training academy. The evaluated parameters included lateral head deviation, uneven shoulders, scoliosis, lateral pelvic tilt, external ankle deviation, forward head posture, kyphosis, sway-back posture, abdominal ptosis, lumbar lordosis, genu varum, genu valgum, pes planus, pes cavus, and internally rotated feet. Assessments were carried out using the New York Posture Rating Chart, a posture grid, a plumb line, and calipers, following established protocols (23, 24, 29). The New York Posture Rating Chart classifies postural alignment as normal (5 points), mild abnormality (3 points), or severe abnormality (1 point). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test for normality, and the Chi-square test were employed to compare categorical variables between genders. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.
3.    Results
Postural assessments were conducted using the New York Posture Rating Test, in which scores of 5, 3, and 1 indicate normal posture, mild deviation, and severe deviation, respectively. Inferential analysis using the Chi-square test revealed a statistically significant gender difference only in lateral head deviation (p = 0.025). Specifically, all female athletes demonstrated normal head posture, whereas several male athletes exhibited lateral head deviation. For the remaining 14 assessed abnormalities, no significant gender differences were found. Most athletes displayed normal posture in several parameters, including scoliosis, kyphosis, and lateral pelvic tilt. However, abnormalities such as lumbar lordosis, genu varum (bowlegs), and pes planus (flat feet) were present in some athletes of both genders, though these differences were not statistically significant (Table 1).

4.    Conclusion
This study demonstrated a generally favorable postural and musculoskeletal status among elite Iranian shooters, with one notable gender-specific finding: male athletes exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of lateral head deviation. This abnormality is particularly critical in a precision sport like shooting, which depends on consistent head and eye alignment for accurate aiming (19). Several factors may contribute to this deviation, including anthropometric differences in the neck and shoulder girdle, variations in weapon handling ergonomics, adopted shooting techniques, and disparities in the functional capacity of cervical and shoulder musculature between genders (12). The static and asymmetrical nature of the shooting stance, if not counterbalanced through proper conditioning and corrective training, can lead to muscle imbalances and reinforce postural deviations over time. While most other assessed parameters did not show statistically significant gender differences and were within normal limits, non-significant occurrences of abnormalities such as lumbar lordosis, genu varum (bowlegs), and pes planus (flat feet) were observed in both male and female athletes. These findings warrant consideration for injury prevention strategies and performance optimization (18, 20). The results are partially consistent with previous studies that have reported gender-based postural differences among athletes (35), but also suggest that the effects of high-level training may mitigate some postural disparities commonly observed in the general population. Limitations of this study include the relatively small sample size and its cross-sectional design, which limits causal inferences. Future studies should incorporate larger samples and longitudinal designs to explore postural and musculoskeletal adaptations over time, particularly in relation to specific shooting disciplines and training loads. 
Ethical Considerations
Compliance with ethical guidelines
the Ethical Committee of Kinesiology Research Center of Kharazmi University approved the study (Code: IR-KHU.KRC.1000.238).
Funding
This research did not receive any financial support from government, private, or non-profit organizations.
Authors' contributions
All authors contributed equally to preparing the article.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest associated with this article.