Back muscle function in adolescent girls treated with a rigid brace for idiopathic scoliosis: no impact of 6-month brace wear on muscle strength or endurance.

The study aimed to determine the impact of 6-month rigid brace on back muscle strength and endurance in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Sixty-one girls, aged 7.0-16.0, were analyzed in two groups: the study group (6-month rigid brace wear) vs. the control group (no brace treatment), recruited consecutively and matched for age, body height, weight, BMI, primary curve location and Cobb angle. All patients underwent clinical and radiological examination, modified Biering-Sorensen test, prone and standing maximum strength and endurance tests. No significant difference between groups in back muscles strength or endurance, both gobal and reported to body weight was found. No relation between the daily brace time and the back muscle strength or endurance was observed. The 6-month use of a rigid brace did not affect the strength or endurance of the back muscles in adolescent girls treated for idiopathic scoliosis.

Loss of body height due to severe thoracic curvature does impact pulmonary testing results in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

A standing body height is a variable used to calculate pulmonary parameters during spirometry examination. In adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, the loss of the body height is observed, and it may potentially influence the results of pulmonary testing. The study aimed to analyze pulmonary parameters in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis in relation to the measured versus the corrected body height. Preoperative pulmonary testing and radiographic evaluation were performed in 39 children (29 females, 10 males) aged 12-17 years. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were measured. The single best effort was analyzed. Thoracic Cobb angle ranged 50°-104°. Corrected body height was calculated according to the Stokes' formula. The subgroup analysis was performed for the subjects with curves 50°-74° (N=26) versus 75°-104° curves (N=13). Mean measured body height was 166.1±9.0 cm versus 168.9±8.9 cm mean corrected body height. The %FVC obtained for the measured height was significantly higher than obtained for the corrected height: 84.6% ±15.6 vs. 81.6% ±15.6, p<0.001. The %FEV1 obtained for the measured height was significantly higher than obtained for the corrected height: 79.8% ±16.3 vs. 77.35% ±15.9, p<0.001. The subgroup analysis revealed significant differences in %FVC and %FEV1 calculated for the measured versus the corrected body height, p<0.001. Corrected body height significantly influences the results of pulmonary parameters measurement. In consequence, it may influence the analysis of the pulmonary status of children with idiopathic scoliosis.

Is there any difference in pulmonary testing parameters due to spirometry reference values? A study in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.

The Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI 2012) presented multi-ethnic spirometry reference values that are recommended to be used instead previous Zapletals' reference values. The study aimed to compare the values of the pulmonary parameters calculated according to the Zapletals' versus the GLI 2012 reference values in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Preoperative pulmonary testing and radiographic evaluation were performed in 39 adolescents (29 females, 10 males) aged 12-17 years. The thoracic Cobb angle ranged 50°-104°. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) were measured. The percentages of predicted values of FVC (%FVC) and the FEV1 (%FEV1) were calculated according to the Zapletals' reference values and to the GLI 2012 reference values. The subgroup analysis was performed for the subjects with Cobb curve 50°-74° (N=26) versus the subjects with Cobb curve 75°-104° (N=13). Mean %FVC was significantly higher using the Zapletals' reference values 86.1%±16.4 versus 84.6%±15.6 using the GLI 2012 reference values, p=0.0116. Mean %FEV1 was significantly higher using the Zapletals' reference values 84.5%±18.2 versus 80.0%±16.3 using GLI 2012 reference values, p=0.000001. The subgroup analysis revealed significant difference of %FVC in moderate (p=0.033974) and no difference in severe curves (p=0.1993). The %FEV1 differences were significant in both moderate (p=0.000011) and severe curves (p=0.0334). The study demonstrated that a significant difference might be observed in the spirometry parameters due to the applied reference values. These differences might be taken into account during the spirometry examination interpretation.

Two-dimensional digital photography for child body posture evaluation: standardized technique, reliable parameters and normative data for age 7-10 years.

BACKGROUND: Digital photogrammetry provides measurements of body angles or distances which allow for quantitative posture assessment with or without the use of external markers. It is becoming an increasingly popular tool for the assessment of the musculoskeletal system. The aim of this paper is to present a structured method for the analysis of posture and its changes using a standardized digital photography technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The purpose of the study was twofold. The first one comprised 91 children (44 girls and 47 boys) aged 7-10 (8.2 ± 1.0), i.e., students of primary school, and its aim was to develop the photographic method, choose the quantitative parameters, and determine the intraobserver reliability (repeatability) along with the interobserver reliability (reproducibility) measurements in sagittal plane using digital photography, as well as to compare the Rippstein plurimeter and digital photography measurements. The second one involved 7782 children (3804 girls, 3978 boys) aged 7-10 (8.4 ± 0.5), who underwent digital photography postural screening. The methods consisted in measuring and calculating selected parameters, establishing the normal ranges of photographic parameters, presenting percentile charts, as well as noticing common pitfalls and possible sources of errors in digital photography. RESULTS: A standardized procedure for the photographic evaluation of child body posture was presented. The photographic measurements revealed very good intra- and inter-rater reliability regarding the five sagittal parameters and good reliability performed against Rippstein plurimeter measurements. The parameters displayed insignificant variability over time. Normative data were calculated based on photographic assessment, while the percentile charts were provided to serve as reference values. The technical errors observed during photogrammetry are carefully discussed in this article. CONCLUSIONS: Technical developments are allowed for the regular use of digital photogrammetry in body posture assessment. Specific child positioning (described above) enables us to avoid incidentally modified posture. Image registration is simple, quick, harmless, and cost-effective. The semi-automatic image analysis, together with the normal values and percentile charts, makes the technique reliable in terms of child's posture documentation and corrective therapy effects' monitoring.