Effect of Using Brace on Kinetics and Kinematics Variables of Lower Limbs and Trunk during Walking in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a deformity of spinal column which is associated with the lateral curvature and rotation of the vertebras. Brace can decrease and prevent the progression of deformity, however, there is no information about the effect of brace on muscle fibers length in these patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the kinetics and kinematics variables of lower limbs and trunk during walking in patients with idiopathic scoliosis compared to healthy subjects.
Five girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (2 subjects have right and 3 subjects have left apex curve) with mean age, height and weight of 12.68±1.16 m, 1.53±0.08 kg and 35.6±6.1 m, respectively and 5 healthy girls with the same age and weight participated in this study. Qualysis motion analysis system and a Kistler force plate were used to record kinematic (joints range of motion) and kinetic (peak of muscle moment, joint contact forces and muscle length) data. Qualysis and Open-SIM software were used to extract the data. All data were analyzed using the SPSS 22 software at α=0.05.
The fiber length of external oblique muscle in scoliosis patients was shorter in right (α=0.02) and left (α=0.02) sides by 4 and 18 mm, respectively. The hip range of motion in frontal plane was lower in patients with idiopathic scoliosis by 6.5 deg (α=0.01). Pelvis rotation was also lower in horizontal plane by 9.8 deg compared to the normal group (α=0.04).
There were no significant differences between kinetic, kinematic and joint contact forces in normal group and patients with idiopathic scoliosis and in convex and concave side of patients. Maybebrace could reduce pelvis and trunk range of motion, prevents the progression of curvature, and balances the forces applied on the joints and muscle fibers length in this patients. The rehabilitation interventions should be done in order to increase the fiber length of external oblique muscle both in convex and concave sides.