An Analysis of Eating Disorders in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Prospective Cross-sectional Study in a Female Population

Abstract

Study Design. Prospective cross-sectional study.Objective. We designed this study to investigate whether adolescent girls with idiopathic scoliosis show a predisposition for eating disorders (EDs) and alterations of the quality of life and body image self-perception, compared to same-age healthy females. Summary of Background Data. Idiopathic scoliosis is the most common spinal deformity of adolescence. Recent findings about the impairment of the self-body image in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis provide a common trait of scoliosis and EDs and could lead to the suspicion of an association between these two pathological conditions. Despite this, current literature shows the lack of evident results about the impact of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) on the possibility to develop of EDs. Methods. One hundred forty-four females with diagnosis of AIS (aged 10-18 years) formed the scoliosis group. One hundred forty-six same-age healthy girls were enrolled in the control group. For all subjects, we considered sport practice. Only for Scoliosis Group, we also considered the severity of scoliosis, the use of brace and the practice of physiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercises. The participants were asked to answer to the Scoliosis Research Society-22 revised Patient Questionnaire (SRS-22r) and the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI). Results. In the scoliosis group, significantly lower scores on the SRS-22r total and in the self-image domain were detected. The two groups showed differences in the total EDI score and in the body dissatisfaction EDI's domain. Severity of scoliosis was correlated with worse SRS-22r total score and SRS-22r self-image domain score. There were no differences in the scores of the SRS-22r and EDI between braced and nonbraced subjects. Lower scores in SRS-22r total and self-image domain were found in girls who practiced physiotherapy exercises. Subjects who practiced a sport showed higher SRS-22r total scores. Conclusion.The AIS cohort in our study demonstrated lower levels of eating psychopathology than healthy controls. Surprisingly, eating behavior does not seem to be affected by orthotic management. However, quality of life and self-body image could be impaired in scoliotic girls, especially when they practice physiotherapy exercises, whereas those who practice sport seem to be preserved in this regard.

Brain oscillatory activity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

“…The recordings were Hanning windowed to control for spectral leakage. Power spectra were estimated for all frequencies between 1 and 30 Hz, then the relative power (%) was calculated by dividing the power of each frequency bands (delta [1][2][3][4] Hz, theta [4.5-7.5] Hz, alpha [8][9][10][11][12] Hz, and beta [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Hz) with the total power of Hz.…”

“…Figure 1 Topographic maps of relative power (%) in delta [1][2][3][4] Hz, theta [4.5-7.5] Hz, alpha [8][9][10][11][12] Hz, and beta [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] Hz bands, during OE arms up and OE standing, averaged from 14 healthy subjects (first row), 10 AIS subjects with right main curve (second row) and 4 AIS subjects with left main curve (third row). The fourth and the fifth rows represent p-maps derived from the Wilcoxon rank sum test (AIS with right main curve: AIS -R vs. CTRL; AIS with left main curve: AIS -L vs. CTRL).…”

“…The cause and pathophysiology of AIS is not yet completely understood, but multi-factorial hypotheses have been proposed: genetic predisposition, hormonal dysfunctions [4], defective postural control by the central nervous system (CNS) [5], and alterations of body schema [6,7,8]. There is growing evidence of cortical involvement in AIS suggesting that AIS could be the expression of a sub-clinical nervous system disorder.…”

Brain oscillatory activity in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

“…The cause and pathophysiology of AIS is not yet completely understood, but multi-factorial hypotheses have been proposed: genetic predisposition, hormonal dysfunctions [3], defective postural control by the central nervous system (CNS) [4], and alterations of body schema [5,6,7]. There is growing evidence of cortical involvement in AIS suggesting that AIS could be the expression of a sub-clinical nervous system disorder.…”

Three-dimensional corrective exercise therapy for idiopathic scoliosis: study protocol for a prospective non-randomized trial

“…The latest review concluded that insufficient evidence is available to suggest that PSSEs with or without other conservative treatments can reduce the Cobb angle and improve trunk appearance and balance, [ 10 ] and three other reviews of studies conducted between 2005 and 2020 suggested that the few clinical trials on the effects of PSSEs on scoliotic deformities that exist are of low quality [ 11 – 13 ]. Surprisingly, Cantele et al affirmed that quality of life and self-perception can be impaired in scoliotic girls, especially when they practise PSSEs, because PSSEs are often perceived by adolescents as stressful, boring and limiting to other everyday activities, even when specific exercise programmes may help prevent scoliosis curve progression and improve their health and fitness status when routinely performed [ 14 ].…”