Functional aerobic exercise capacity limitation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
BACKGROUND
Exercise limitation has been described in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS); however, whether the walking performance is impaired in these patients should be elucidated.


OBJECTIVE
Thus, we aimed to evaluate the physiologic responses to the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) in patients with AIS.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with AIS and 20 healthy adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years old.


METHODS
Oxygen uptake (VO₂), incremental shuttle walk distance (ISWD), ΔVO₂/Δwalking velocity, ΔHR/ΔVO₂, ΔVE/ΔVCO₂, and linearized Δtidal volume (VT)/ΔlnVE, forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1), and forced vital capacity (FVC).


METHODS
We performed two ISWTs, and the data used were acquired in the second test. We also evaluated the lung function and respiratory muscle strength through spirometry test and manovacuometry, respectively. All authors confirm that there are no conflicts of interest. To compare the means or medians of variables between patients and healthy subjects, we used the unpaired t test or Mann-Whitney U test, respectively. The correlations were assessed by Pearson or Spearman coefficients according to the distribution of the studied variables. The probability of alpha error was set at 5% for all analyses.


RESULTS
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients showed significant lower values of ISWD, VO₂, and ventilation at the end of the ISWT, as well as lower FEV₁ and FVC; they also presented significantly shallower slope of ΔVT/ΔlnVE, whereas VO₂ related significantly with ISWD (r=0.80), FVC (r=0.78), FEV₁ (r=0.73), and ΔVT/ΔlnVE (r=0.58).


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis correlated to walking limitation and was associated to reduced pulmonary function and worse breathing pattern during exercise. Our results suggest that walking-based aerobic exercises should be encouraged in these patients.
Department of Human Movement Sciences, Laboratory of Human Motricity, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo [UNIFESP]), Av. D. Ana Costa, 95 - Vl. Mathias, Santos, SP 11060-001, Brazil. Electronic address: evandrosperandio@yahoo.com.
Evandro F
EF
Sperandio
Department of Human Movement Sciences, Laboratory of Human Motricity, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo [UNIFESP]), Av. D. Ana Costa, 95 - Vl. Mathias, Santos, SP 11060-001, Brazil.
Anderson S
AS
Alexandre
Department of Human Movement Sciences, Laboratory of Human Motricity, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo [UNIFESP]), Av. D. Ana Costa, 95 - Vl. Mathias, Santos, SP 11060-001, Brazil.
Liu C
LC
Yi
Department of Human Movement Sciences, Laboratory of Human Motricity, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo [UNIFESP]), Av. D. Ana Costa, 95 - Vl. Mathias, Santos, SP 11060-001, Brazil.
Patrícia R
PR
Poletto
Orthopedic Department, Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Santos Hospital, Av. Dr. Cláudio Luís da Costa, 50 - Jabaquara, Santos, SP, 11075-900, Brazil.
Alberto O
AO
Gotfryd
Department of Human Movement Sciences, Laboratory of Human Motricity, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo [UNIFESP]), Av. D. Ana Costa, 95 - Vl. Mathias, Santos, SP 11060-001, Brazil.
Milena C
MC
Vidotto
Department of Human Movement Sciences, Laboratory of Human Motricity, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Federal University of São Paulo [UNIFESP]), Av. D. Ana Costa, 95 - Vl. Mathias, Santos, SP 11060-001, Brazil.
Victor Z
VZ
Dourado
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis; Cardiovascular deconditioning; Exercise limitation; Lung function; Respiratory muscles; Spine