title: Electromyographic assessment of functional symmetry of paraspinal muscles during static exercises in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The question of how to correct and rehabilitate scoliosis remains one of the most difficult problems of orthopaedics. Controversies continue to arise regarding various types of both symmetric and asymmetric scoliosis-specific therapeutic exercises.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present paper was to conduct an electromyographic assessment of functional symmetry of paraspinal muscles during symmetric and asymmetric exercises in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in a group of 82 girls, mean age 12.4 ± 2.3 years with single- or double-major-idiopathic scoliosis, Cobb angle 24 ± 9.4°. The functional biopotentials during isometric work of paraspinal muscles in "at rest" position and during two symmetric and four asymmetric exercises were measured with the use of the Muscle Tester ME 6000 electromyograph.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, asymmetric exercises were characterised by larger differences in bioelectrical activity of paraspinal muscles, in comparison with symmetric exercises, both in the groups of patients with single-curve and double-curve scoliosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During symmetric and asymmetric exercises, muscle tension patterns differed significantly in both groups, in comparison with the examination at rest, in most cases generating positive corrective patterns. Asymmetric exercises generated divergent muscle tension patterns on the convex and concave sides of the deformity.
authors.affiliation: Section of Biomechanics of the University School of Physical Education in Kraków, Al. Jana Pawła II 78, 31-571 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chwała
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiotherapy of the Podhale State Higher Vocational School in Nowy Targ, ul. Kokoszków 71, 34-400 Nowy Targ, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koziana
authors.affiliation: Section of Physiotherapy and Biological Regeneration of the University School of Physical Education in Kraków, Al. Jana Pawła II 78, 31-571 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasperczyk
authors.affiliation: Section of Biological Regeneration of the University School of Physical Education in Kraków, Al. Jana Pawła II 78, 31-871 Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7639-2192
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walaszek
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in Biała Podlaska, The Józef Piłsudski University School of Physical Education, Warszawa, ul. Akademicka 2, 21-500 Biała Podlaska, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Płaszewski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064170:Paraspinal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000503:physiopathology*