Postural Screening for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis with Infrared Thermography

Abstract

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a multifactorial, three-dimensional deformity of the spine and trunk. School scoliosis screening (SSS) is recommended by researchers as a means of early detection of AIS to prevent its progression in school-aged children. The traditional screening technique for AIS is the forward bending test because it is simple, non-invasive and inexpensive. Other tests, such as the use of Moiré topography, have reduced the high false referral rates. The use of infrared (IR) thermography for screening purposes based on the findings of previous studies on the asymmetrical paraspinal muscle activity of scoliotic patients compared with non-scoliotic subjects was explored in this study. IR thermography is performed with an IR camera to determine the temperature differences in paraspinal muscle activity. A statistical analysis showed that scoliotic subjects demonstrate a statistically significant difference between the left and right sides of the regions of interest. This difference could be due to the higher IR emission of the convex side of the observed area, thereby creating a higher temperature distribution. The findings of this study suggest the feasibility of incorporating IR thermography as part of SSS. However, future studies could also consider a larger sample of both non-scoliotic and scoliotic subjects to further validate the findings.

Shear wave elastography of the lateral abdominal muscles in C-shaped idiopathic scoliosis: a case–control study

“…It may be that each scoliosis type has its own pattern of the LAM muscles’ response to spinal deviation like it was shown in paraspinal muscles 33 . Our results on OE muscle thickness are in line with other studies 34 – 36 on IS in which muscles on concave side are less active and weaker than those on convex side. The question is raised why the OE was only thicker on convex body side without any side-to-side asymmetry in the OI and TrA muscles.…”

Increased Computer Use is Associated with Trunk Asymmetry That Negatively Impacts Health-Related Quality of Life in Early Adolescents

“…During the FBT, the participants were requested to slowly bend 90 degrees forward at the waist, with their feet placed together, knees straight, chin tucked to the chest, arms hanging down freely and palms held together. [46][47][48][49] The scoliometer was placed over the spinous processes and glided along the back surface of the thoracic and lumbar spine to measure the ATR while the participants performed the Adam's FBT. Depending on the location of the thoracic rotational prominence or lumbar flank prominence, the participants were asked to bend forward until the hump became apparent.…”

Online Identification of Shearer Cutting State Using Infrared Thermal Images of Cutting Unit

“…The friction between the roller and the coal wall, both with different characteristics, generates distinct heat, so that the temperature of the coal wall is also different after cutting. Infrared thermal imaging technology has the characteristics of strong interference immunity, good target recognition ability, and easy collection, and has been widely used in military reconnaissance [13], video surveillance [14,15], nondestructive testing [16][17][18][19], medical inspections [20][21][22], fault diagnosis [23][24][25][26], and so on [27,28]. In Reference [29], the authors described the use of thermal infrared-based sensing to provide a means to automatically measure the vertical position of the mining machine with respect to the coal seam.…”