A simple method for assessing rotational flexibility in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: modified Adam's forward bending test

Early-onset scoliosis in children aged 4-7 years in Nanjing, China: A cross-sectional study

Background

This study aimed to investigate the potential variance in the prevalence of early-onset scoliosis among children aged 4-7 years and analyze the influencing factors. The goal was to establish a crucial reference point for monitoring and evaluating spinal curvature development in preschoolers, ultimately to reduce the occurrence of adverse health outcomes.

Methods

Children aged 4-7 years within the main urban area of Nanjing were selected using a stratified random sampling method. A team of four senior therapists conducted screenings for spinal curvature among children using visual inspection, the Adams forward bending test, and an electronic scoliometer to measure the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) and identify children displaying signs of scoliosis. Children with suspected scoliosis in the initial screening underwent X-ray Cobb angle assessment for confirmation. The prevalence of early-onset scoliosis was then determined from the screening results. R version 4.2.0 software was used to analyze the factors associated with scoliosis among children using partial least squares structural equation modeling.

Results

A total of 2281 children were included in this study, consisting of 1211 boys and 1070 girls, with a mean age of 5.44 ± 0.81 years (ranging from 4 to 7 years). Among them, 7.58% exhibited positive signs of scoliosis, 5.87% had early-onset scoliosis, and the positive predictive value was 77.5%. Significant differences in ATR were observed among children in different age groups (Kruskal-Wallis = 15, p = 0.0104) and by sex (t = 3.17, p = 0.00153). Significant variations in ATR were noted in children with scoliosis (t = -22.7, p < 0.001), with a cutoff at ATR = 4.5°, and auxiliary values of 0.947 and 0.990. Children diagnosed with early-onset scoliosis generally exhibited lower body mass index values, with a statistically significant difference (t = 2.99, p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Using visual inspection, the Adams test, and an electronic scoliometer to measure the ATR, the present triad method is more sensitive for early scoliosis screening in children with abnormal posture aged 4-7 years. A full spine X-ray is advised in children with an ATR over 4.5° and poor posture.

Relation between Photogrammetry and Spinal Mouse for Lumbopelvic Assessment in Adolescents with Thoracic Kyphosis

The evaluation of the lumbopelvic region is a crucial point during postural assessment in childhood and adolescence. Photogrammetry (PG) and Spinal Mouse (SM) are two of the most debated tools to properly analyze postural alignment and avoid misleading data. This study aims to find out the best linear regression model that could relate the analytic measurements of the SM with one or more PG parameters in adolescents with kyphotic postures. Thirty-nine adolescents (female = 35.9%) with structural and non-structural kyphosis were analyzed (13.2 ± 1.8 years; 1.59 ± 0.12 m; 47.6 ± 11.8 kg) using the SM and PG on the sagittal plane in a standing and forward-bending position, allowing for the measurement of body vertical inclination, lumbar and pelvic alignment, trunk flexion, sacral inclination during bending, and hip position during bending. Lordosis lumbar angles (SM) were significantly (r = -0.379, r = -0.328) correlated with the SIPS-SIAS angle (PG) during upright standing, while in the bending position, the highest correlation appeared among the sacral-hip (SM) and the sacral tangent (ST_PG; r = -0.72) angles. The stepwise backward procedure was assessed to estimate the SM variability in the bending and standing positions. Only in the bending position did the linear regression model reach high goodness-of-fit values with two regressors (ST_PG η2=0.504, BMI η2=0.252; adjusted- R2 =0.558, p < 0.001, CCC = 0.972, r = 0.763). Despite gold-standard methods reducing error evaluation, physicians and kinesiologists may consider photogrammetry as a good method for spinal curve prediction.

Exploring the Effectiveness of Hatha Yoga as a Complementary Treatment for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: Clinical Effect and Future Research Directions

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a common spinal deformity that primarily affects adolescents during the key period of growth and development. While traditional treatment methods often involve bracing or surgery, Hatha yoga, a millennia-old practice rooted in Indian tradition, has emerged as a complementary option for AIS cases. This paper explores the potential benefits of Hatha yoga for adolescents with AIS. It also discusses the limitations of existing research, such as the lack of large-scale randomized controlled trials (RCTs), varying yoga protocols, and challenges in blinding participants and researchers. To address these limitations, I propose future research directions, including conducting large-scale RCTs, long-term follow-up studies, standardized yoga protocols, and assessing safety concerns. I also highlight the need for tailored interventions and comparative effectiveness studies to better understand the potential of Hatha yoga in the holistic treatment of AIS in adolescents.

The effect of brace on apical vertebral derotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

PURPOSE

The current study aims to evaluate the effect of Boston brace treatment on apical vertebral derotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients receiving conservative treatment.

METHODS

The study included 51 AIS patients, consisting of 8 males and 43 females, with Cobb angles between 25° and 45° and Risser's findings ranging from 0 to 4. The mean age of the participants was 12.20 ± 1.34 years. All patients were treated with the Boston brace for a minimum of 2 years and evaluated before the brace, during early brace use, and at the last follow-up. Radiographs were assessed to measure apical vertebral rotation (AVR) and vertebral translation (AVT). The SRS-22 questionnaire was used to evaluate patient outcomes.

RESULTS

The radiographs of patients were evaluated over a mean follow-up period of 32.42 ± 8.65 months. Before the brace, the mean AVR was 2.1 ± 0.6, while it was 1.1 ± 0.5 with the brace. At the last follow-up, the mean AVR was 1.3 ± 0.5 (p < 0.001). Before the brace, the mean AVT was 36.4 ± 9.6 mm, which decreased to 16.7 ± 7.3 mm with the brace (p < 0.001). At the last follow-up, the mean AVT was 19.8 ± 8.1 mm (p < 0.001). The use of the brace had a significant corrective effect on thoracolumbar and lumbar curvatures compared to before the brace (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The findings of the current study suggest that the use of a Boston brace in the conservative treatment of AIS is effective in correcting the coronal and sagittal plane deformities, including thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbar curvatures, and in reducing apical vertebral rotation and translation.

A Neural Network Approach for Inertial Measurement Unit-Based Estimation of Three-Dimensional Spinal Curvature

The spine is an important part of the human body. Thus, its curvature and shape are closely monitored, and treatment is required if abnormalities are detected. However, the current method of spinal examination mostly relies on two-dimensional static imaging, which does not provide real-time information on dynamic spinal behaviour. Therefore, this study explored an easier and more efficient method based on machine learning and sensors to determine the curvature of the spine. Fifteen participants were recruited and performed tests to generate data for training a neural network. This estimated the spinal curvature from the readings of three inertial measurement units and had an average absolute error of 0.261161 cm.

The Effects of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis on Axial Rotation of the Spine: A Study of Twisting Using Surface Topography

Axial twisting of the spine has been previously shown to be affected by scoliosis with decreased motion and asymmetric twisting. Existing methods for evaluating twisting may be cumbersome, unreliable, or require radiation exposure. In this study, we present an automated surface topographic measurement tool to evaluate global axial rotation of the spine, along with two measurements: twisting range of motion (TROM) and twisting asymmetry index (TASI). The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of scoliosis on axial range of motion. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients and asymptomatic controls were scanned in a topographic scanner while twisting maximally to the left and right. TROM was significantly lower for AIS patients compared to control patients (69.1° vs. 78.5°, p = 0.020). TASI was significantly higher for AIS patients compared to control patients (29.6 vs. 19.8, p = 0.023). After stratifying by scoliosis severity, both TROM and TASI were significantly different only between control and severe scoliosis patients (Cobb angle > 40°). AIS patients were then divided by their major curve region (thoracic, thoracolumbar, or lumbar). ANOVA and post hoc tests showed that only TROM is significantly different between thoracic AIS patients and control patients. Thus, we demonstrate that surface topographic scanning can be used to evaluate twisting in AIS patients.

Age-Related, Sport-Specific Dysfunctions of the Shoulder and Pelvic Girdle in Athletes Table Tennis Players. Observational Study

Background: Postural skills are fundamental in motor activities, so far no evidence of a direct relationship has been found, it is therefore recommended to consider the following directions, the higher the level of sports competition, the better the body posture; or better athletes also have a better body posture. Around the age of 11-14 years, it is a period of aggressive development, if the rapid growth of the bone system is not associated and symmetrical with the development of soft tissues serious postural deficiencies may develop in table tennis players. Methods: We used the web camera – photographic method (38) related to the Sensor Medica software that allows the acquisition of images in order to detect postural deficiencies and we considered it necessary to have a clear image of the level of technical-tactical training of female juniors III using 5 tests specific to topspin attack in order to assess the influence of body posture on such tests. Eighteen female juniors III (the mean ± SD age, height and weight were 11.1 ± 0.2 years, 147.7 ± 2.6 cm, 39.0 ± 2.0 kg). Descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the procedures for establishing the normality of data distribution, Levene's Test for Equality of Variances, the t test for independent samples. The confidence interval was set at 95% (p < 0.05), Results and Conclusions: Since Sig. (2-tailed) or p < α = 0.001 and taking into account that the confidence interval limits for the difference between the sample mean and the reference value (95% CI for the mean difference) do not contain the zero value, it is accepted that there are statistically significant differences between the shoulder inclination for the female athletes in the sample studied and the reference value. We identified that at the level of alignment between anatomical landmarks, the percentage of deficiency of the entire lot of female juniors III in the case of shoulders is 100% and at the level of PSIS is 66%, which validates several studies that stated that in this period of aggressive growth correlated with repetitive unilateral executions specific to the topspin attack lead to postural deficiencies. In terms of the influence of body posture on the quality level, we identified that Group 1 – (without PSIS imbalance) has a higher average overall efficiency of the 5 tests (11.33) compared to Group 2 (8.58), even if from a statistical point of view these differences are not significant. Keywords: Body posture, Asimmetry, Topspin attack, Table tennis, Sensor Medica,