title: Postural imbalance in non-treated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis at different periods of progression.
abstract: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that imbalance in patients with a severe deformity of the spine is associated with an increase in the sensory integration disorder. This paper is a case comparison study. Patients were divided into three groups: able-bodied (n = 53), observation (n = 23), and pre-brace (n = 26) groups. Time domain parameters (sway area, position and displacement) and structural posturographic parameters [mean distance (MD) and mean peak (MP)] were calculated from the COP excursion using a force platform. A sensory integration disorder could be an important factor in the progression of the scoliotic curve. Significant differences were found in time domain between observation, pre-brace and able-bodied groups. The results for the structural posturographic parameters showed significant differences between the pre-brace and the able-bodied groups (P = 0.018 MD and P = 0.02 MP) demonstrating a perturbation in sensory integration system by an increase of imbalance. The absence of statistical difference between the observation and the pre-brace groups for the structural posturographic parameters indicates a perturbation of sensory integration system associated with curve progression. Our study has demonstrated that the pre-brace group is less stable than the able-bodied group. The severity of scoliosis in pre-brace scoliotic girls could be related to an increase in the sensory integration disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Montreal University, Montreal, Canada. marlene.beaulieu@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toulotte
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gatto
authors.forename: Charles-H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rivard
authors.forename: Normand
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Teasdale
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simoneau
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000150:complications*; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications*