Sagittal spinal curvatures of young adults in the context of their self-reported physical activity and somatic parameters.

The objective of this study was to assess the thoracic kyphosis (ThKA) and lumbar lordosis (LLA) in healthy young adults and to investigate potential relationships between spinal curvatures, self-reported physical activity (PA), and somatic parameters. The study included 380 female students and 211 male students aged 20.7 ± 1.5 years. The ThKA and LLA were measured using a Plurimeter-V gravity inclinometer. The level of PA was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. ThKA was lower in women compared to men, while LLA was higher in women than in men (p < 0.0001). Female students reported lower PA than male students (p < 0.001). Female students with ThKA within normal values reported a significantly higher amount of low-intensity PA compared to those with ThKA below or above the norm. A correlation was found between ThKA and body mass index (BMI), body adiposity index (BAI), WC, and fat percentage (rho < 0.2), whereas LLA showed correlations with BMI, BAI, waist circumference, and fat percentage (rho < 0.2). Among male students, a correlation was found between LLA and BMI as well as WC (rho < 0.2). Maintaining a healthy body composition may be instrumental in mitigating the risk of developing spinal curvature abnormalities.

Stronger association of objective physical metrics with baseline patient-reported outcome measures than preoperative standing sagittal parameters for adult spinal deformity patients.

OBJECTIVE: Sagittal alignment measured on standing radiography remains a fundamental component of surgical planning for adult spinal deformity (ASD). However, the relationship between classic sagittal alignment parameters and objective metrics, such as walking time (WT) and grip strength (GS), remains unknown. The objective of this work was to determine if ASD patients with worse baseline sagittal malalignment have worse objective physical metrics and if those metrics have a stronger relationship to patient-reported outcome metrics (PROMs) than standing alignment. METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective review of a multicenter ASD cohort. ASD patients underwent baseline testing with the timed up-and-go 6-m walk test (seconds) and for GS (pounds). Baseline PROMs were surveyed, including Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-22r, and Veterans RAND 12 (VR-12) scores. Standard spinopelvic measurements were obtained (sagittal vertical axis [SVA], pelvic tilt [PT], and mismatch between pelvic incidence and lumbar lordosis [PI-LL], and SRS-Schwab ASD classification). Univariate and multivariable linear regression modeling was performed to interrogate associations between objective physical metrics, sagittal parameters, and PROMs. RESULTS: In total, 494 patients were included, with mean ± SD age 61 ± 14 years, and 68% were female. Average WT was 11.2 ± 6.1 seconds and average GS was 56.6 ± 24.9 lbs. With increasing PT, PI-LL, and SVA quartiles, WT significantly increased (p < 0.05). SRS-Schwab type N patients demonstrated a significantly longer average WT (12.5 ± 6.2 seconds), and type T patients had a significantly shorter WT time (7.9 ± 2.7 seconds, p = 0.03). With increasing PT quartiles, GS significantly decreased (p < 0.05). SRS-Schwab type T patients had a significantly higher average GS (68.8 ± 27.8 lbs), and type L patients had a significantly lower average GS (51.6 ± 20.4 lbs, p = 0.03). In the frailty-adjusted multivariable linear regression analyses, WT was more strongly associated with PROMs than sagittal parameters. GS was more strongly associated with ODI and PROMIS Physical Function scores. CONCLUSIONS: The authors observed that increasing baseline sagittal malalignment is associated with slower WT, and possibly weaker GS, in ASD patients. WT has a stronger relationship to PROMs than standing alignment parameters. Objective physical metrics likely offer added value to standard spinopelvic measurements in ASD evaluation and surgical planning.

Knee flexion compensation in postoperative adult spinal deformity patients: implications for sagittal balance and clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: To determine whether maintaining good sagittal balance with significant knee flexion (KF) constitutes a suboptimal outcome after adult spinal deformity (ASD) correction. METHODS: This single-center, single-surgeon retrospective study, assessed ASD patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion between 2014 and 2020. Inclusion criteria included meeting at least one of the following: PI-LL ≥ 25°, T1PA ≥ 20°, or CrSVA-H ≥ 2 cm. Those with lower-extremity contractures were excluded. Patients were classified into four groups based on their 6-week postoperative cranio-hip balance and KF angle, and followed for at least 2 years: Malaligned with Knee Flexion (MKF+) (CrSVA-H > 20 mm + KFA > 10), Malaligned without Knee Flexion (MKF-) (CrSVA-H > 20 mm + KFA < 10), Aligned without Knee Flexion (AKF-) (CrSVA-H < 20 mm + KFA < 10), and Aligned with Knee Flexion (AKF+) (CrSVA-H < 20 mm + KFA > 10). The primary outcomes of this study included one and two year reoperation rates. Secondy outcomes included clinical and patient reported outcomes. RESULTS: 263 patients (mean age 60.0 ± 0.9 years, 74.5% female, and mean Edmonton Frailty Score 3.3 ± 0.2) were included. 60.8% (160/263 patients) exhibited good sagittal alignment at 6-week postop without KF. Significant differences were observed in 1-year (p = 0.0482) and 2-year reoperation rates (p = 0.0374) across sub-cohorts, with the lowest and highest rates in the AKF- cohort (5%, n = 8) and MKF + cohort (16.7%, n = 4), respectively. Multivariable Cox regression demonstrated the AKF- cohort exhibited significantly better reoperation outcomes compared to other groups: AKF + (HR: 5.24, p = 0.025), MKF + (HR: 31.7, p < 0.0001), and MKF- (HR: 11.8, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that patients relying on knee flexion compensation in the early postoperative period have inferior outcomes compared to those achieving sagittal balance without knee flexion. When compared to malaligned patients, those with CrSVA-H < 20 mm and KFA > 10 degrees experience fewer early reoperations but similar delayed reoperation rates. This insight emphasizes the importance of considering knee compensation perioperatively when managing sagittal imbalance in clinical practice.

Impact of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis on Full Body Sagittal Alignment and Compensation for Sagittal Spinal Deformity.

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of lower extremity osteoarthritis on sagittal alignment and compensatory mechanisms in adult spinal deformity (ASD). BACKGROUND: Spine, hip, and knee pathologies often overlap in ASD patients. Limited data exists on how lower extremity osteoarthritis impacts sagittal alignment and compensatory mechanisms in ASD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In total, 527 preoperative ASD patients with full body radiographs were included. Patients were grouped by Kellgren-Lawrence grade of bilateral hips and knees and stratified by quartile of T1-Pelvic Angle (T1PA) severity into low-, mid-, high-, and severe-T1PA. Full-body alignment and compensation were compared across quartiles. Regression analysis examined the incremental impact of hip and knee osteoarthritis severity on compensation. RESULTS: The mean T1PA for low-, mid-, high-, and severe-T1PA groups was 7.3°, 19.5°, 27.8°, and 41.6°, respectively. Mid-T1PA patients with severe hip osteoarthritis had an increased sagittal vertical axis and global sagittal alignment ( P <0.001). Increasing hip osteoarthritis severity resulted in decreased pelvic tilt ( P =0.001) and sacrofemoral angle ( P <0.001), but increased knee flexion ( P =0.012). Regression analysis revealed that with increasing T1PA, pelvic tilt correlated inversely with hip osteoarthritis and positively with knee osteoarthritis ( r2 =0.812). Hip osteoarthritis decreased compensation through sacrofemoral angle (ß-coefficient=-0.206). Knee and hip osteoarthritis contributed to greater knee flexion (ß-coefficients=0.215, 0.101; respectively). For pelvic shift, only hip osteoarthritis significantly contributed to the model (ß-coefficient=0.100). CONCLUSIONS: For the same magnitude of spinal deformity, increased hip osteoarthritis severity was associated with worse truncal and full body alignment with posterior translation of the pelvis. Patients with severe hip and knee osteoarthritis exhibited decreased hip extension and pelvic tilt but increased knee flexion. This examines sagittal alignment and compensation in ASD patients with hip and knee arthritis and may help delineate whether hip and knee flexion is due to spinal deformity compensation or lower extremity osteoarthritis.

The fatty degeneration of the lumbar erector spinae muscles affects dynamic spinal compensation ability during gait in adult spinal deformity.

This study aimed to investigate whether fat infiltration in lumbar paravertebral muscles assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be related to dynamic sagittal spino-pelvic balance during gait in adult spinal deformity (ASD). This is a retrospective analysis of 28 patients with ASD. The fat infiltration rate of lumbar erector spinae muscles, multifidus muscles and psoas major muscles was measured by T2 weighted axial MRI at L1-2 and L4-5. Dynamic sagittal spinal and pelvic angles during gait were evaluated using 3D motion analysis. The correlation between fat infiltration rate of those muscles with variations in dynamic kinematic variables while walking and static radiological parameters was analyzed. Spinal kyphosis and pelvic anteversion significantly increased during gait. Fat infiltration rate of erector spinae muscles at L1-2 was positively correlated with thoracic kyphosis (r = 0.392, p = 0.039) and pelvic tilt (r = 0.415, p = 0.028). Increase of spinal kyphosis during walking was positively correlated with fat infiltration rate of erector spinae muscles both at L1-2 (r = 0.394, p = 0.038) and L4-5 (r = 0.428, p = 0.023). Qualitative evaluation of lumbar erector spinae muscles assessed by fat infiltration rate has the potential to reflect dynamic spino-pelvic balance during gait.

The impact of sagittal imbalance on walking in patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis.

PURPOSE: Gait and posture disorder severely impedes the quality of life of affected patients with lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS). Despite the major health concern, there is a paucity of literature about the relationships among spatiotemporal gait parameters and spinal sagittal parameters. This is a cross sectional study performed in a single tertiary referral center to determine the relationships among spatiotemporal gait parameters and spinal sagittal parameters in patients with LSCS. METHODS: A total of 164 consecutive patients with LSCS, 87 men and 77 women with mean age of 70.7 years, were enrolled. Spatiotemporal gait parameters were studied using a gait analysis system. Spinal sagittal parameters were studied including sagittal vertical axis (SVA), thoracic kyphosis (TK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sacral slope (SS), pelvic inclination (PI), and pelvic tilt (PT) both in the neutral and stepped positions. RESULTS: SVA was significantly larger in the stepped position than in the neutral position (neutral position, 72.5 mm; stepped position, 96.8 mm; p = 0.003). Parameters regarding the pelvis exhibited significant differences, which could represent pelvic anteversion in the stepped position. By stepwise multiple regression analysis, the prediction models, containing SVA (neutral) and PT (stepped) for double supporting phase, exhibited statistical significance, and accounted for approximately 50% of the variance. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides statistically established evidence of correlation among spatiotemporal gait parameters and spinal sagittal parameters. Differences between sagittal parameters in neutral and stepped position may stand for the postural control during gait cycle, and increased SVA in neutral position and increased PT in stepped position may correlate with prolonged double supporting phase.

Subthalamic Stimulation for Camptocormia in Parkinson's Disease: Association of Volume of Tissue Activated and Structural Connectivity with Clinical Effectiveness.

BACKGROUND: Deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) has been reported to be effective for camptocormia in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the association between clinical effectiveness and the stimulated volumes or structural connectivity remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effectiveness of STN-DBS for treating camptocormia in PD and its association with volumes of tissue activated (VTA) and structural connectivity. METHODS: We reviewed video recordings of patients who had undergone STN-DBS. The total and upper camptocormia (TCC and UCC) angles were measured to quantify changes in camptocormia. The Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (MDS-UPDRS III) was used to assess motor symptoms. Pre- and postoperative brain images were collected for modeling volume of VTA and structural connectivity using Lead-DBS software. RESULTS: Participants included 36 patients with PD (8 with TCC-camptocormia and 2 with UCC-camptocormia) treated with bilateral STN-DBS. After surgery, patients showed a significant improvement in postural alignment at follow-up (mean follow-up duration: 6.0±2.2 months). In the entire sample, higher structural connectivity to the right supplementary motor area (SMA) and right lateral premotor cortex along the dorsal plane (PMd) was associated with larger postsurgical improvements in axial signs and TCC angles after stimulation was turned on. In patients diagnosed with camptocormia, larger improvement in camptocormia angles after STN-DBS was associated with a larger VTA overlap with STN (R = 0.75, p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that both VTA overlap with STN and structural connectivity to cortical motor regions are associated with the effectiveness of STN-DBS for managing camptocormia in PD.

Variation of Minimum Clinically Important Difference by Age, Gender, Baseline Disability, and Change of Direction in Adult Spinal Deformity Population: Is It a Constant Value?

BACKGROUND: The minimum clinically important difference (MCID), an important concept to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments, might not be a single "magical" constant for any given health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scale. Thus, we analyzed the effects of various factors on MCIDs for several HRQoL measures in an adult spinal deformity population. METHODS: Surgical and nonsurgical patients from a multicenter adult spinal deformity database who had completed pretreatment and 1-year follow-up questionnaires (Core Outcome Measures Index [COMI], Oswestry Disability Index [ODI], Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form questionnaire, 22-item Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes questionnaire, and an anchor question of "back health"-related change during the previous year) were evaluated. The MCIDs for each HRQoL measure were calculated using an anchor-based method and latent class analysis for the overall population and subpopulations stratified by age, gender, and baseline scores (ODI and COMI) separately for patients with positive versus negative perceptions of change. RESULTS: Patients with a baseline ODI score of <20, 20-40, and >40 had an MCID of 2.24, 11.35, and 26.57, respectively. Similarly, patients with a baseline COMI score of <2.75, 2.8-5.4, and >5.4 had an MCID of 0.59, 1.38, and 3.67 respectively. The overall MCID thresholds for deterioration and improvement were 0.27 and 2.62 for COMI, 2.23 and 14.31 for ODI, and 0.01 and 0.71 for 22-item Scoliosis Research Society Outcomes questionnaire, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the present study have demonstrated that MCIDs change in accordance with the baseline scores and direction of change but not by age or gender. The MCID, in its current state, should be considered a concept rather than a constant.

Patient Expectations of Adult Spinal Deformity Correction Surgery.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing interest in examining preoperative expectations as a potential predictor of postoperative outcome. However, it has never been studied in the setting of adult spinal deformity (ASD). This study aims to characterize patient expectations before ASD surgery and examine the relationship between preoperative expectation and postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs). METHODS: Analysis of prospectively collected clinical and PRO data was performed on patients who underwent ASD surgery. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, a diagnosis of ASD, >3 vertebral level instrumentation, and completed pre- and postoperative surveys. The preoperative expectation survey included expectations of surgical outcome, pain reduction, complications, and the duration of postoperative recovery. Relationships between patient expectations and PROs were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients who underwent operative management of ASD met the inclusion criteria. In their preoperative survey, 66% of patients expected highly successful surgery, whereas 22% had a moderate expectation of complications. Patients anticipated an average 71% reduction in back pain (range 42%-100%) and 68% reduction in leg pain (range 0%-100%). Patients who met their expectations of leg pain reduction had significantly greater satisfaction scores than those who did not. There were moderate-to-strong positive correlations between preoperative expectation and observed improvement in back pain, leg pain, and mental health. CONCLUSIONS: While substantial variability in patient expectation exists for the surgical management of ASD, patients anticipated a positive outcome with a significant reduction in pain. Greater postoperative satisfaction was associated with patients who met the expected improvement in leg pain. Preoperative expectation was positively correlated with change in pain and mental health scores.

Radiographic characterisation of spinal curvature development in farmed New Zealand Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha throughout seawater production.

Spinal anomalies are a recognised source of downgrading in finfish aquaculture, but identifying their cause(s) is difficult and often requires extensive knowledge of the underlying pathology. Late-onset spinal curvatures (lordosis, kyphosis, scoliosis) can affect up to 40% of farmed New Zealand Chinook (king) salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) at harvest, but little is known about their pathogenesis. Curvature development was radiographically documented in two related cohorts of commercially-farmed Chinook salmon throughout seawater production to determine (1) the timing of radiographic onset and relationships between (2) the curvature types, (3) the spinal regions in which they develop and (4) their associations with co-existing vertebral body anomalies (vertebral compression, fusion and vertical shift). Onset of curvature varied between individuals, but initially occurred eight months post-seawater transfer. There were strong associations between the three curvature types and the four recognised spinal regions: lordosis was predominantly observed in regions (R)1 and R3, kyphosis in R2 and R4, manifesting as a distinct pattern of alternating lordosis and kyphosis from head to tail. This was subsequently accompanied by scoliosis, which primarily manifested in spinal regions R2 and R3, where most of the anaerobic musculature is concentrated. Co-existing vertebral body anomalies, of which vertebral compression and vertical shift were most common, appeared to arise either independent of curvature development or as secondary effects. Our results suggest that spinal curvature in farmed New Zealand Chinook salmon constitutes a late-onset, rapidly-developing lordosis-kyphosis-scoliosis (LKS) curvature complex with a possible neuromuscular origin.

The influence of Nordic walking on isokinetic trunk muscle endurance and sagittal spinal curvatures in women after breast cancer treatment.

PURPOSE: The aim of this work was to assess the impact of Nordic walking on sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance in women after breast cancer treatment. METHODS: Thirty-nine breast cancer survivors were divided into two groups: a study group (n = 19) that performed Nordic walking, and a control group (n = 20) that performed a standard general exercise programme. Body posture was assessed using Moiré photogrammetry and trunk muscle (flexors and extensors) endurance at 120°/s was measured isokinetically. Statistical analyses were based on two-way ANOVA with Scheffe post hoc tests and Pearson's r correlation tests. RESULTS: Women who completed the 8-week Nordic walking intervention showed significant improvements in average power and total work, irrespective of the muscle group investigated. Following training intervention, greater strength-velocity values of the trunk muscles were observed in the study group, compared to the control group. There were no significant changes in postural parameters or correlations for trunk muscle function within spinal curvatures before and after the training interventions. When both groups were combined (Nordic walking + general exercises), functional-postural correlations following the intervention showed a statistically significant tendency toward a reduced inclination of the upper thoracic section, together with increases in all tested functional parameters of the trunk flexor and extensor muscles (r = -0.33 to r = -0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to a standard general exercise programme, Nordic walking is more effective for improving isokinetic trunk muscle endurance in women after breast cancer. However, no changes in sagittal spinal curvatures were observed after the 8-week Nordic walking and general exercise interventions.

Insufficiency of trunk extension and impaired control of muscle force in Parkinson's disease with camptocormia.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the aetiology of parkinsonian camptocormia, a non-fixed pathological forward bending of the trunk, by measuring trunk muscle activation and force regulation in Parkinson patients with (PD + CC) and without (PD) camptocormia matched for disease severity, and in age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). METHODS: The isometric forces of trunk extension and flexion were measured in PD + CC, PD and HC. Neuromuscular efficiency (increase of extension force per increase of paravertebral muscle surface electromyography signal) and the ability to maintain a constant submaximal trunk extension force were examined. RESULTS: Peak trunk extension force was significantly lower in PD + CC and PD than in HC, with PD + CC non-significantly weaker than PD. Compared with HC and with PD, the neuromuscular efficiency of trunk extension was significantly reduced in PD + CC. The variability of the force output (coefficient of variation) was significantly larger for PD + CC than for HC or PD. CONCLUSION: The reduced neuromuscular efficiency of trunk extension separates PD + CC from PD. Moreover, control of the trunk extensor force is impaired in PD + CC. SIGNIFICANCE: There is weakness and a force control deficit in parkinsonian camptocormia suggesting a disturbed sensory-motor integration, which may contribute to myopathic changes in the trunk extensor muscles.

Sagittal standing spinal alignment and back pain in 8 to 12-year-old children from the Region of Murcia, Spain: The ISQUIOS Program.

BACKGROUND: The child's spine shows changes in posture and balance of its curvatures during growth and musculoskeletal spinal conditions are likely to develop, such as back pain (BP). OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were (a) to describe the sagittal spinal alignment in a relaxed standing position and (b) to analyze its association with BP among 8 to 12-year-old children. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 731 elementary schoolchildren (379 girls and 352 boys), from 16 Spanish schools, participated. An unilevel inclinometer was used to quantify the sagittal spinal curvatures (thoracic and lumbar) in a relaxed standing position. Sagittal spinal morphotype was analyzed by sex, age, weight, height, and BMI. Children's parents or legal guardians filled in a questionnaire according to the children's responses about the BP suffered in the previous week and the preceding year. RESULTS: The mean angular value of thoracic kyphosis was 36.08 ± 8.99∘ and significantly higher in males than in females (p= 0.036). In contrast, the mean value of lumbar lordosis was 32.11 ± 7.46∘, being higher in females than in men (p< 0.01). The thoracic curve tends to increase by age (p= 0.003). Children who had low back pain (LBP) in the previous week had a significantly greater lumbar curve (35.88 ± 8.20∘) than those who did not have LBP in the preceding week (32.24 ± 7.30∘). The angle for lumbar curvature was a small predictor of LBP occurrence in the assessed children (OR = 1.082 [small]; 95% CI = 1.009-1.160, p= 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, almost 3/4 of the students were classified with normal thoracic kyphosis; however, 27.36% of the students had thoracic hyperkyphosis. Lumbar hyperlordosis was identified in 9.05% of the students, and was 2.5 times more frequent in girls. The lumbar curvature was a small predictor of LBP occurrence in the assessed children and the angle of lumbar curvature that most accurately identified individuals at risk of developing LBP was determined to be 33∘. The results of this study indicate the need to assess sagittal spinal curvatures at school during development ages.

Comparison of cervical muscle activity and spinal curvatures in the sitting position with 3 different sloping seats.

Lumbar and pelvic alignment may have a huge impact on the posture of the spine and other parts. The aim of this study were to compare the spinal curvature of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine and the muscle activity of the cervical erector spinae muscle, upper trapezius muscle, and thoracic erector spinae muscle when sitting at 3 different sloped, seating surfaces. A 10° wedge was used as the seating surface and we compared a forward sloping seat surface, a flat seating surface, and a rear sloping seat surface, in that order. Twenty healthy officers were recruited for this study. The subjects sat on the seat of 3 different slopes and watched a total of 3 videos, 10 minutes each. The rest time was 10 minutes. Subjects were photographed while viewing videos and muscle activity was measured. There were significant differences in cervical, thoracic, lumbar curvatures, and muscle activity in the 3 different sitting positions according to seat tilt (P < .05). Among the 3 slopes, the forward slope decreased forward head posture and cervical erector spinae muscle activity (P < .05). The activity of the cervical erector spinae muscle was 2.67% with a forward sloping seat, 5.45% with a flat sloping seat, and 6.77% with a rear sloping seat, revealing a significant difference (P < .05). This suggests that a forward sloping seat surface was effective in maintaining a neutral alignment of the spine, and this decreased the cervical spine erector muscle activity. Based on this result, equipment and chair development to incline seats forward may improve posture and health, and prevent chronic pain.

Effect of 9-month Pilates program on sagittal spinal curvatures and hamstring extensibility in adolescents: randomised controlled trial.

The percentage of spine misalignment increases during the childhood and adolescence stages. The Pilates method has been associated with an improvement in the sagittal spine disposition, but no studies have been conducted on adolescents. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 9-month Pilates exercise program (PEP) on hamstring extensibility and sagittal spinal curvatures on adolescents. This randomised controlled trial included 236 adolescents. The experimental group (EG) received a PEP (9 months, 2 sessions/week, 15 minutes/session). The control group (CG) did not receive any intervention. Hamstring extensibility was measured with the passive and active straight leg raise and toe-touch tests. Sagittal spinal curvatures and pelvic tilt was assessed in relaxed standing, active alignment and toe-touch test positions. The EG had significant changes in hamstring extensibility, lumbar curvature and pelvic tilt in standing sagittal curvature. The CG became significantly worse in thoracic kyphosis in standing. This study provides evidence of nine-months of a PEP increased the hamstring extensibility; averted the increase of the thoracic curvature, and decreased the curvature of the lumbar lordosis and pelvic tilt in standing position; avoided a greater increase of thoracic curvature in active alignment in standing position; and avoided the increase of thoracic curvature in trunk flexion.

Mandibular slope: a reproducible and simple measure of horizontal gaze.

STUDY DESIGN: This study is a single-center retrospective radiographic review. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to evaluate a novel measurement parameter, mandibular slope (MS), as a measure of horizontal gaze. INTRODUCTION: Assessment of sagittal spinal alignment is essential in the evaluation of spinal deformity patients. Ability to achieve a horizontal gaze, a parameter of sagittal alignment, is needed for the performance of daily activities. Standard measures of horizontal gaze, including the gold-standard chin-brow to vertical angle (CBVA) and the surrogate measures McGregor's line (McGS) and Chamberlain's line (CS), require high-quality imaging, precise head positioning, and reliance on difficult to view visual landmarks. A novel measurement parameter, MS, utilizing the caudal margin of the mandible on standard lateral spine radiographs is proposed. METHODS: 90 radiographs from spine deformity patients with or without spinal implants from a single center were evaluated. Three spine surgery fellows independently measured CBVA, McGS, CS, and MS at two timepoints at least one week apart to assess accuracy and reliability. MS was measured as the angle created by the inferior edge of the mandibular body and the horizontal. Formulas for calculating CBVA based on the above parameters were derived and compared to the actual CBVA. RESULTS: Mean age was 49.7 years, 76 females and 14 males. CBVA correlated with CS, McGS, and MS, r = 0.85, 0.81, and 0.80, respectively (p < 0.001). Standard error between real CBVA and calculated CBVA using CS (0.4 ± 4.79) and McGS (0.4 ± 3.9) was higher than that calculated using MS (- 0.2 ± 4.3). ICC demonstrated the highest inter-observer reliability with MS (0.999). MS had the highest intra-observer reliabilities 0.975, 0.981, and 0.988 (p < 0.001); CS and McGS also demonstrated high intra-observer reliability. CONCLUSIONS: MS is a promising measure of horizontal gaze that correlates highly with CBVA, has excellent intra- and inter-observer reliability with CBVA, and is easily measured using standard lateral spine radiographs.

Canonical correlation between body-posture deviations and gait disorders in children with cerebral palsy.

Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) show the postural constraints while standing, and gait disorders, resulting from both primary and secondary impairments of brain injury. In our previous studies, several characteristic postural and gait patterns in children with unilateral as well as with bilateral CP were defined, and the relationship between these patterns was demonstrated. The purpose of present study was to identify which features of body posture deviation during standing were strongly related to gait deviations in independently ambulatory children with CP. For this aim we explored the cross-relationship between features of body posture while standing examined by surface topography and the selected gait parameters from three-dimensional instrumented gait analysis in one hundred twenty children with cerebral palsy, aged between 7 and 13 years, who were able to walk independently. First, our study documented that that sagittal misalignment of the spine curvature was significantly related to kinematic deviations such as deviations of pelvic tilt, inadequate swing phase and knee flexion, and peak dorsiflexion in stance. Second, the study shows that the static asymmetry of pelvis and trunk was significantly associated with kinematic deviations during gait cycle such as pelvic rotation, hip abduction in swing, ROM of knee flexion, peak dorsiflexion in stance. Based on obtained results and referring to our previous findings it can be assumed that the first model of the relationship between postural deviation and gait disturbances, called 'postural and gait complex of disorders in sagittal plane', is related to children with bilateral CP, whereas the second model 'postural and gait complex of disorders in coronal plane' to children with unilateral CP. The clinical applications of this study relate to the early recognition of particular features of postural deviation using surface topography, instead of more difficult and demanding expensive tools 3-D gait analysis.

Postural Stability and Dynamic Balance in Adult Spinal Deformity: Prospective Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate dynamic balance and postural stability in patients with adult spinal deformity (ASD) compared with published age-matched normative data. METHODS: Eleven patients with ASD were prospectively enrolled. Postural stability was tested using static and dynamic posturography; patients stood on a movable platform with an integrated force plate and performed standardized sensory organization testing (SOT), evaluating the influence of sensory processing on postural stability under 6 conditions, and motor control testing, assessing reflexive postural reactions to an external perturbation. Patient performance was compared with that of published age-matched controls. Quality of life metrics included scores on the Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire, SF-36, and Morse Fall Scale. Correlations between postural stability and radiographic measurements were performed. RESULTS: ASD patients demonstrated significantly lower SOT scores (P ≤ 0.03) in 5 of 6 conditions tested and greater latency of limb movement during backward translation (P = 0.04) compared with controls. Lower SOT scores were associated with a history of falls. ASD patients who self-reported falling in the previous 6 months, when compared with nonfallers, demonstrated significantly lower SOT scores (P = 0.04) and significantly lower Scoliosis Research Society-22 self-image subscores (P = 0.003). Thoracic kyphosis and mediolateral sway (predictor of falls) were positively correlated in the eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions (P ≤ 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: ASD patients demonstrated impaired postural stability, diminished sensory integration, and delayed response to external perturbations compared with normal control data. Postural stability and quality of life metrics correlated with self-reported falls. These findings suggest that ASD patients have abnormal postural stability and may be at elevated risk of falls.

The relationship between sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance after aquatic exercise training in survivors of breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Assessment of the impact of aquatic exercises on the relationship between sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance against standard land exercises in women after breast cancer treatment. METHODS: 40 women post breast cancer divided into two groups: a study group (n = 20) participated in the aquatic exercises and a control group (n = 20) performed the land exercises. Data collection occurred both before and after the 8 week intervention. Measurements were taken from the SG and CG performing antagonistic movements (flexions/extensions) to assess the endurance (120 °/s) in isokinetic conditions and a photogrammetric examination to define sagittal spinal curvatures. RESULTS: A significant improvement (p < 0.05) in total work and average power was found among women after the aquatic exercises irrespective of the muscle group under examination. There were no significant changes in any examined parameters after the land exercises. In the study group, there was a significant association of gamma angle decrease and an increase of all examined functional parameters of total work and average power of both the extensor muscles (r = -0,49 to -0.51) and the trunk flexors (r = -0.48 to -0.51). In the control group, a similar tendency of functional-postural changes was observed only for the extensor muscles of the trunk (r = -0.54 to -0.58). CONCLUSIONS: General exercises performed in water, as opposed to those performed on land, are more effective in terms of the functional-postural retations in women after breast cancer.

The Study of Subthalamic Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson Disease-Associated Camptocormia.

BACKGROUND Camptocormia is an axis symptom of Parkinson disease. It remains uncertain whether treatment with medications and surgery are effective. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) in Parkinson disease-associated camptocormia and explored some of its mechanisms. MATERIAL AND METHODS Parkinson disease-associated camptocormia was diagnosed by the following procedures. All patients underwent bilateral STN DBS. The patents' camptocormia was rated by degree and MDS Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) item 3.13 before and after DBS surgery. Rehabilitation and psychological interventions were used after surgery, in addition to adjustments of medication and stimulus parameters. The treatment effects on camptocormia were assessed comparing medication-off (presurgery) versus stimulation-on (post-surgery). Ethical approval for this study was provided through the Center of Human Research Ethics Committee (No. 2019-35). This study trial was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR1900022655). All the participants provided written informed consent. RESULTS After DBS surgery, all of study patients' symptoms were improved, with different levels of improvement. The minimum and maximum improvement rates were 20% and 100% respectively. The score of item 3.13 of the MDS-UPDRS III and the degree of camptocormia were found to be obviously improved (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS STN DBS can improve Parkinson disease-associated camptocormia; STN DBS assisted with rehabilitation and psychological intervention appears to be more effective.