Treating patients with mild adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using scoliosis-specific exercises / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of scoliosis-specific exercises ( SSE) on patients with mild ado-lescent idiopathic scoliosis ( AIS) . Methods Thirty patients with mild AIS were assigned to a control group ( n=10) or an SSE group ( n=20) . The control group received routine health education, while the SSE group completed a 60-minute set of SSE 2 to 3 times a week for 12 weeks. The angle of trunk rotation ( ATR) , maximum Cobb angle and angle of vertebral rotation (AVR) were recorded. Bone strength parameters including the speed of sound (SOS), Z-score and percentile distal radius were measured. Surface electromyography ( sEMG) was performed for the erector spinae muscle. In addition, forced vital capacity ( FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second ( FEV1) were measured and compared with the predicted values ( FVC/pred% and FEV1pred%) . A falling index ( FI) and quality of life ( QOL) were measured. Results Compared with before the treatment, the average maximum Cobb angle in the control group increased significantly after the lessons, but there was no significant difference in any of the other measures, including QOL. For the control group the activation rate of the concave side of the apex level erector spi-nae was significantly lower than on the convex side both before and after the lessons. The SSE group showed no sig-nificant improvement in their average ATR, maximum Cobb angle, AVR or FI results, but their average SOS, Z-score and percentile of the distal radius, FVC, FEV1 and motor function improved significantly after the treat-ment. Before the treatment the activation rate of their concave side was also lower than on the convex side, but after the treatment there was no significant difference between them on average. Conclusion Early SSE can prevent further deformation, promote bone strength, improve lung function reduce the difference in the motor control of the bilateral erector spinae muscles among patients with mild AIS. It can promote a better quality of life and is worth ap-plying in clinical practice.