Treatment of adult lumbar scoliosis with axial spinal unloading using the LTX3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System.
METHODS
Repeated-measures analysis of variance: within-subject study using six adult subjects with varying degrees of scoliosis.


OBJECTIVE
To develop methodology to measure the effects of axial spinal unloading using the LTX3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System (Spinal Design International Inc., Minneapolis, MN) over a 3-month period on subjects with idiopathic scoliosis. To look for sustained treatment benefits, thus measuring the duration of changes induced on lateral scoliotic curves over the 3-month period after intervention with the LTX3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System.


BACKGROUND
Current treatments for idiopathic scoliosis have shown mixed results in managing curve progression. Little research has been done to show the effectiveness of axial spinal unloading in changing the curvature of the spine.


METHODS
Baseline data were obtained from four radiographs (two frontal plane, two sagittal plane), surface electromyograms, and back range of motion measurements. Data were collected at four laboratory sessions (baseline, 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months), and the intervention was given between baseline and the 3-month sessions. The intervention phase consisted of axial unloading, two treatments a day for 10 minutes per session, using the LTX3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System.


RESULTS
Static change of Cobb angle values over time showed statistical significance (P = 0.02, alpha = 0.05). Dynamic change of Cobb angle values within sessions showed statistical significance (P = 0.036, alpha = 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study showed a significant decrease in Cobb angle measurements in the lumbar curvature during the intervention phase. Once the home intervention program was terminated, the lateral lumbar curvature reverted to baseline values (pre-intervention).
Hales
Jeremiah
J
Program in Physical Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
Larson
Peter
P
Iaizzo
Paul A
PA
D000328:Adult; D004389:Durable Medical Equipment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012399:Rotation; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014143:Traction / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome