Investigation of Static Balance Differences between Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis and Healthy Age-matched Adolescents: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to compare postural control between Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) and healthy adolescents.
 Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 20 AIS adolescents with a right thoracic curvature between 10 and 45 degrees and 20 healthy adolescents were matched to compare postural control. Postural control assessments included Center of Pressure (COP) range and COP velocity in the Anteroposterior (AP) and Mediolateral (ML) directions, and the COP sway area in the standing position with opened eyes and closed eyes by the force plate.
 Results: This study showed that the postural control variables in AIS adolescents and healthy adolescents in terms of COP range, COP velocity, and COP sway area in standing positions with open and closed eyes were significantly different with those of AIS adolescents being worse than those of healthy adolescents (all p<0.001). The interaction between Group and Condition (eyes open and eyes closed) was not significant for all variables (all p>0.05).
 Conclusion: Differences in the postural control measures indicate postural instability in adolescents with AIS compared to healthy adolescents.

The Effect of the Direction of Primary Lateral Spinal Curvature on Postural Stability in Children with Scoliosis

“…A review of studies on postural stability in children/adolescents with scoliosis in comparison with their typically developing peers revealed that the results were not fully consistent. Notably, both earlier studies [ 8 , 9 , 10 ] as well as recent studies [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] reported significant differences in stability, while others reported a lack of differences in stability [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Assuming that, irrespective of the primary triggers of IS, persistent asymmetric mechanical loading relative to the spinal axis may influence scoliosis development and progression, several recent studies have focused on analyzing body weight distribution (BWD) on the basis of support (BoS) between body sides [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] and assessing postural stability in children/adolescents with scoliosis [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

“…In addition, the cited literature focuses on the impact of various clinical features of scoliosis on postural stability. Gauchard et al [ 10 ] and Wiernicka et al [ 11 ] evaluated the effect of different types of progressive idiopathic scoliosis, and Park et al [ 12 ] evaluated the effect of the scoliosis angle on static and dynamic postural control [ 9 ]. Allard et al [ 13 ], Leteneur et al [ 14 ], and Nault et al [ 16 ] focused on the effect of body somatotype on standing balance.…”