Exercise tolerance and selected motor skills in young females with idiopathic scoliosis treated with different physiotherapeutic methods.

BACKGROUND: Scoliosis is a disorder that leads to dysfunction of a number of systems in the body, especially in young females. Physical capacity is one of the most important elements of good health as well as ofbiological development. Adolescence is a time when physical capacity develops intensively, and the condition of the respiratory system is one of many factors that have an impact on the level of physical capacity. This paper aims to evaluate a short-term application of two methods of physiotherapy and their influence on the level of exercise tolerance in young females suffering from idiopathic scoliosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved a group of 49 young females aged 14-15 years diagnosed with (2040°) thoracic and lumbar scoliosis who were in-patients at the rehabilitation ward of the Regional Paediatric Rehabilitation Hospital in Jastrzebie Zdrój. The group was divided into two subgroups depending on the method of rehabilitation employed: the first subgroup received asymmetric breathing exercise therapy by Dobosiewicz and the second subgroup practised symmetric remedial exercises. Cobb's angle, the degree of skeletal maturity, i.e. the Risser sign and the degree trunk rotation of the apex of the curvature by means of Raimondi's coefficient were determined once in an x-ray image. Basic somatic features, maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV parameter), selected motor skills and exercise tolerance were assessed on two occasions (before beginning and after completion of the rehabilitation treatment). RESULTS: 1. Young females suffering from (20-40°) thoracic and lumbar scoliosis demonstrate respiratory dysfunction, as shown by decreased maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) in the two subgroups in the present study. Exercises according to Dobosiewicz's method brought about a significantly higher degree of improvement in this parameter. 2. The physiotherapeutic regimen administered to the young girls with scoliosis significantly improved their strength motor skills and exercise tolerance. A significantly higher improvement was observed in the subgroup treated using Dobosiewicz's method, in particular, in the strength of abdominal muscles, which play an important role in both respiratory function and body posture maintenance.

Evaluation of lung function, chest mobility, and physical fitness during rehabilitation of scoliotic girls.

BACKGROUND: Scoliosis is a common medical condition in children and adolescents, particularly girls. It is accompanied by disorders of multiple systems and organs, especially the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, which significantly affects general physical capacity. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study sought to assess lung function, chest mobility, and physical fitness in scoliotic girls undergoing rehabilitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study involved a group of 30 young females aged 14-16 who were inpatients at the rehabilitation ward of the Regional Paediatric Rehabilitation Hospital in Jastrzebie Zdrój receiving treatment for idiopathic scoliosis. A baseline physiotherapeutic assessment of patients' posture was followed by a spirometry test to determine selected parameters of lung function. Additionally, selected physical fitness tests were carried out. After 4-5 weeks, respiratory system function was re-examined and the fitness tests were also repeated. In the period between the examinations and tests, the study participants underwent specialised physical rehabilitation in the form of asymmetric respiratory exercise therapy developed by Dobosiewicz (a modified Lehnert-Schroth method). RESULTS: The study results indicate a statistically significant increase in each measured parameter of respiratory system function effected by rehabilitation according to asymmetric respiratory exercise therapy in the study group of scoliotic girls. Chest mobility parameters and fitness scores also improved in a statistically significant manner. CONCLUSIONS: Remedial gymnastics in the form of asymmetric respiratory exercise therapy developed by Dobosiewicz considerably improved all parameters of respiratory function and chest mobility in the study group of girls with idiopathic scoliosis. The remedial exercises highly significantly improved chest mobility and fitness scores in the scoliotic girls.