Relations between Posture and Trunk Muscle Functions in Girls with Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract

Background. Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) affects 1–3% of children aged 10–16 years (Weinstein et al., 2008). It is important to make comprehensive evaluation and treatment of IS because it provokes health problems and progresses (Negrini et al., 2006). There is a lack of research on muscle impairments, their relations with posture in IS (Parent, Ritchter, 2016). Aim – to assess relations between posture and trunk muscle functions in schoolaged girls with IS. Methods. The study included 20 patients with IS. Anthropometric measurements, measurements of posture (habitual standing posture, posture performing auto-correction and performing Matthias test), functional trunk stability evaluation, trunk muscle static endurance tests were used. Results. After performing auto-correction, thoracic kyphosis signifcantly decreased. Measurements showed decreased static trunk muscle endurance, normal proportions between trunk muscle groups: 75% of subjects have trunk instability. Trunk inclination, left major surface rotation statistically signifcantly changed in functional trunk stability test. Statistical moderate correlations were determined between both side trunk muscle static endurance and: medium surface rotation, major left surface rotation, medium lateral deviation. Also between Cobb angle and static endurance of left side trunk muscles. Changes of major left surface rotation in functional trunk stability test correlated with static endurance ratio of both sides trunk muscles. Statistical strong correlation was determined between major right lateral deviation and both sides muscles static endurance. Conclusions. School-aged girls with IS change kyphosis after auto-correction have low static endurance of trunk muscles and dysfunction of functional stability. Statistically moderate and strong correlations between posture parameters and trunk muscle functions were assessed.

Keywords: posture, trunk muscle functions, idiopathic scoliosis, school-aged girls.