Proprioceptive accuracy in idiopathic scoliosis.
Defects in proprioceptive postural control have been linked to the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis. In particular, a rearrangement of the internal representation of the body has been proposed in these cases. In this study, upper-extremity proprioceptive accuracy was compared among the following groups: 1) patients with idiopathic scoliosis (n = 25); 2) subjects with nonprogressive spinal asymmetry detected by screening in school (n = 23); 3) subjects undergoing behavioral training for nocturnal enuresis (n = 17); and 4) normal subjects (n = 134). A significant inaccuracy was found among the right-handed subjects of the scoliosis and spinal asymmetry groups as compared to the normal group. It is postulated that proprioceptive dysfunction, or borderline function, is a causative factor of spinal asymmetry, which is often observed in early adolescence and which in some cases may be progressive.
Keessen
W
W
Department of Orthopaedics, University Hospital for Children and Youth, Het Wilhelmina Kinderziekenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Crowe
A
A
Hearn
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*