title: Clinical balance tests, proprioceptive system and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
abstract: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional deformity of the spinal column of unknown etiology. Multiple factors could be involved, including neurosensory pathways and, potentially, an elective disorder of dynamic proprioception. The purpose of this study was to determine whether routine balance tests could be used to demonstrate an elective alteration of dynamic proprioception in AIS.
  
  
  
  This was a multicentre case-control study based on prospectively collected clinical data, in three hospitals pediatric, with spine consultation, from January 2013 through April 2015. From an original population of 547 adolescents, inclusion and non-inclusion criteria indentified 114 adolescents with right thoracic AIS (mean age 14.5 ± 1.9 years, Cobb angle 35.7 ± 15.3°) and 81 matched adolescents without scoliosis (mean age 14.1 ± 1.9 years). Participants performed three routine clinical balance tests to assess the static and dynamic proprioception: the Fukuda-Utenberger stepping test (angle of rotation in degrees and distance of displacement in cm) to assess dynamic balance; the sharpened Romberg test and the unipedal stance test (eyes closed) to assess static balance.
  
  
  
  There was no significant difference between AIS subjects and controls for the static tests, but there was a significant difference for the dynamic test for both measures: distance of displacement (p < 0.01) and angle of rotation (p < 0.0001). This result confirms our initial these: the dynamic proprioception is altered electively in AIS.
  
  
  
  These findings confirm recent AIS studies. Our results might be related to immature central integration of dynamic proprioceptive input leading to a poorly adapted motor response, particularly for postural control of the, in AIS. These balance tests can be performed in routine practice. Their validity as a biomarker for screening and monitoring purposes should be assessed.
authors.affiliation: Soins de Suite et de Réadaptation Pédiatrique Marc Sautelet de Villeneuve d'Ascq, 59650, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.|Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation-Hôpital Swynghedauw, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, 59000, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Morgane
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Berre
authors.affiliation: Université Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France.|Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation-Centre Hospitalier Saint Philibert de Lomme, Groupe Hospitalier de l'Institut Catholique de Lille (GHICL), Lomme, France.
authors.forename: Marc-Alexandre
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Guyot
authors.affiliation: Université Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France.|Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation-Centre Hospitalier Saint Philibert de Lomme, Groupe Hospitalier de l'Institut Catholique de Lille (GHICL), Lomme, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Agnani
authors.affiliation: Soins de Suite et de Réadaptation Pédiatrique Marc Sautelet de Villeneuve d'Ascq, 59650, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.|Institut de Formation en Masso-Kinésithérapie du Nord de la France, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bourdeauducq
authors.affiliation: Soins de Suite et de Réadaptation Pédiatrique Marc Sautelet de Villeneuve d'Ascq, 59650, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Christine
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Versyp
authors.affiliation: Université Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France.|Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation-Centre Hospitalier Saint Philibert de Lomme, Groupe Hospitalier de l'Institut Catholique de Lille (GHICL), Lomme, France.
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donze
authors.affiliation: Université Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France.|Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation-Hôpital Swynghedauw, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, 59000, Lille, France.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thévenon
authors.affiliation: Soins de Suite et de Réadaptation Pédiatrique Marc Sautelet de Villeneuve d'Ascq, 59650, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France. jean-francois.catanzariti@orange.fr.|Université Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France. jean-francois.catanzariti@orange.fr.|Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation-Centre Hospitalier Saint Philibert de Lomme, Groupe Hospitalier de l'Institut Catholique de Lille (GHICL), Lomme, France. jean-francois.catanzariti@orange.fr.|Institut de Formation en Masso-Kinésithérapie du Nord de la France, Lille, France. jean-francois.catanzariti@orange.fr.|Service de Rhumatologie-Hôpital Roger Salengro, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France. jean-francois.catanzariti@orange.fr.
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3973-0855
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Catanzariti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Fukuda stepping test; Idiopathic scoliosis; Postural balance test; Postural control; Proprioceptive sensory