title: Transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation for the treatment of progressive spinal curvature deformities.
abstract: Transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation has been used to treat spinal curvature. Electrically induced muscle contractions cause partial straightening of the spinal column while the patients sleep. Long-term treatment of 107 patients with progressive idiopathic scoliosis shows a 93% success rate in preventing further progression for curves below 30 degrees while the rate drops to 73% for curves above 30 degrees. In non-idiopathic scoliosis the outcome varied with aetiology and curve magnitude. All kyphosis patients stopped progression.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008141:Lordosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D011187:Posture; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012890:Sleep; D013997:Time Factors