Side differences of the lateral abdominal wall in supine rest position in mild adolescent idiopathic thoracolumbar scoliosis

The Improvement of Trunk Muscle Endurance in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis Treated with ScoliBrace® and the ScoliBalance® Exercise Approach

The impact of scoliosis bracing combined with physiotherapeutic scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) on trunk muscle endurance in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis is unknown. ScoliBrace®, a rigid, three-dimensional, over-corrective thoraco-lumbar-sacral orthosis (TLSO), and ScoliBalance®, a PSSE program, were used to treat adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. A retrospective study of the trunk muscle endurance of 33 AIS patients who received ScoliBrace® and ScoliBalance® was conducted. The patients were treated with ScoliBrace® and an individualized ScoliBalance® program. Trunk extensor muscle endurance (TE) and abdominal muscle endurance (AE) tests were performed at initial assessment and then at averages of 6.6 and 24.4 weeks of treatment. The data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Stata version 15.1. The participants were aged 13.24 years (SD = 1.64) with a mean Cobb angle of 38.97° (SD = 9.49°). TE improved significantly (p < 0.001) at both short- and medium-term intervals using ScoliBalance® and ScoliBrace® in the AIS patients. AE also showed significant improvement between baseline and short-term follow-up, with non-significant improvement at medium-term follow-up. Overall, trunk muscle endurance showed improvement in the AIS patients using ScoliBrace® and ScoliBalance®. Future research is required to determine the individual and combined effects of each treatment. However, it seems likely that trunk muscle endurance will not deteriorate in AIS patients with this combined treatment.

Effects of 3D Postural Correction and Abdominal Muscle Contraction on the Symmetry of the Transverse Abdominis and Spinal Alignment in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of 3D postural correction (3DPC) using corrective cushions (CCs) and abdominal muscle contraction (AMC) on the thickness symmetry of the transversus abdominis (TrA) and spinal alignment in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). In the first experiment, ultrasound measurements were taken of the TrA thickness on both the convex and concave sides of the lumbar curve in the supine position during AMC and non-AMC without 3DPC, and during AMC and non-AMC with 3DPC using CCs, in 11 IS patients. In the second experiment, 37 IS patients participated in a four-week 3DPC exercise program that aimed to maintain TrA thickness symmetry based on the results of the first experiment. The study found that TrA thickness symmetry significantly increased after 3DPC using CCs and combined with AMC (p < 0.05). Additionally, the Cobb angles and trunk rotation angles showed significant decreases, and trunk expansion showed a significant increase (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the simultaneous application of 3DPC and AMC is the most effective way to achieve TrA thickness symmetry in IS patients. Therefore, 3DPC and AMC should be considered as crucial elements in exercise interventions for IS patients.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of abdominal muscle thickness symmetry in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a case controlled study

BACKGROUND

To date, there are limited studies evaluating abdominal muscle symmetry in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients and these studies in the literature do not evaluate the rectus abdominis (RA) muscle in AIS patients.

AIM

To evaluate the symmetry of the thickness of the abdominal muscles while standing and supine position in AIS patients. DESİGN: A case control study.

METHODS AND POPULATION

Radiographic examination data of patients with AIS (n=40) were collected. An ultrasound assessment was performed of the side-to-side differences of the RA, external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and transversus abdominalis (TrA) muscles in the standing and supine positions in AIS and control groups (n=40). Three repeat measurements of the thickness of each muscle were performed and relative thicknesses were compared.

RESULTS

The mean percentage (%) difference between the right and left sides muscle measurement of the control group was between on standing position 1.54% and 3.00%, in supine 0.8% and 5.87% for different muscles; however, the meanpercentage (%) of this difference in the ASI group ranged from 6.28% to 15.13% (standing ) and 7.21% to 17.24% (supine). Muscle asymmetry in the ASI group was significantly higher than in the control group for all muscles in measurements in the standing and supine position (p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

All abdominal relative muscle thicknesses in the AİS patients were more asymmetric than healthy adolacents.

Lateral Abdominal Muscles Shear Modulus and Thickness Measurements under Controlled Ultrasound Probe Compression by External Force Sensor: A Comparison and Reliability Study

The aim of this study was to perform a reliability and agreement analysis and to compare lateral abdominal muscles (LAMs) thickness and elasticity results obtained by an experienced operator, by a non-experienced operator, and in an ultrasound imaging probe compression controlled (PCC) condition with minimal force necessary to obtain a proper ultrasound image. The sample consisted of 39 adolescents. An Aixplorer ultrasound scanner was used to evaluate the LAM. The probe in PCC condition was positioned in a prepared probe holder coupled with a pressure sensor. The LAM thickness and elasticity measurements were significantly (p < 0.05) different in the ultrasound PCC condition, compared to results obtained by both examiners. The abdominal oblique external and internal muscle thickness measurements were underestimated and all LAM shear moduli were overestimated during measurements without controlling the probe compression by an external sensor. The intra-class correlation coefficient was excellent in all conditions, but the smallest detectable differences were approximately 43–60% lower during the measurements collected in PCC condition. Differences in LAM measurements between PCC and ‘on-hand’ conditions may be clinically irrelevant when the force applied by the probe is consciously controlled by the examiner. However, during ultrasound measurements of the LAM morphology, the potential under/over estimation should always be considered when measurements are performed without controlling probe compression by an external sensor.

Shear wave elastography of the lateral abdominal muscles in C-shaped idiopathic scoliosis: a case-control study

Considering that knowledge about lateral abdominal muscles (LAM) in idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is still very limited, the aims of this study were: (a) to compare LAM thickness and elasticity between C-shaped IS and non-scoliotic population; and (b) to compare LAM thickness and elasticity between C-shaped thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbar IS. A total of 259 adolescents were included in the final analysis; among these, 108 were IS and 151 were non-IS. LAM thickness and elasticity were measured at rest and during isometric contraction by an Aixplorer ultrasound scanner. Out of all LAM, only OE thickness was higher on the convex body side compared to the concave side in lumbar and thoracolumbar scoliosis. It may be related with muscle’s atrophy/hypertrophy or other tissues displacement rather than different force generated by the muscle on both body sides, because an asymmetry in the elasticity of the LAM between the convex and concave side was not presented. The only TrA was stiffer in lumbar scoliosis compared to thoracolumbar and thoracic scoliosis. LAM elasticity was similar in IS and non-IS adolescents.

Assessment of Body Posture of Children With Chest Pain

Objective: An increase in the appearance of chest pain among children is observed globally. The authors present various reasons for their appearance. As can be seen from numerous observations, the majority of cases are not related to the pathology of the circulatory system. Increasingly, studies on the causes of chest pain in children show their association with musculoskeletal disorders. Aim: of the work was assessment of body posture in children with chest pain using the Diers Formetric 4D system. Methods: The study involved a group of 184 female and male children, aged 7-12 years. The study group consisted of 64 patients with chest pain. The children from this group were diagnosed with functional chest pain by a cardiologist. The control group consisted of 120 patients without chest pain. The study included the assessment of body posture using the DIERS Formetric system. Results: The analysis of the results obtained during the study showed that among the children with chest pain, there are statistically significant irregularities in the parameters determining body posture compared to the control group. Comparing the study group with the control group, there is a statistically significant difference in the lateral deviation of VPDM (rms) (mm) (p = 0.001). Both children from the test group aged 9-10 and 11-12 obtained higher results than their peers from the control group. In the group of the youngest children in terms of the lateral deviation of VPDM (rms) (mm), increasing the number of children under study would contribute to significant differences in this variable. In the study group, among children aged 9-10 years, there were also statistically significant abnormalities regarding trunk imbalance and pelvic skewness compared to the children of the same age in the control group. Conclusions: Irregularities in the parameters determining body posture may cause chest pain in children.