The effect of orthotic treatment on plantar pressure distribution in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A prospective observational study

Orthotic treatment is one of the most effective nonoperative methods for preventing scoliosis progression, most studies have proved that spinal orthoses could control or decrease spinal curvature to below the surgery threshold. However, few studies have investigated whether the plantar pressure distribution of patients with scoliosis could be affected by spinal orthoses. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of spinal orthosis on the plantar pressure distribution in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Thirty patients with AIS who met the eligibility criteria were screened and intervened with customized Cheneau spinal orthoses in this prospective observational cohort study. Static and dynamic plantar pressure tests were performed with the FreeMed platform and Freestep plantar pressure analysis system before the initial orthosis fitting and after 6 months of orthosis wearing. The tests were repeated 3 times, and the mean values were used for the final analyses. The paired t-test and nonparametric analysis were used to analyze the differences in plantar pressure distribution characteristics before and after orthotic treatment. After 6 months of orthotic treatment, the off-orthosis correction rate was 19.5%. The percentage of pressure difference between the convex and concave side foot (8.67 ± 5.23%), and the force area difference between the convex and concave side foot (8.40 ± 5.10 cm 2 ) were significantly reduced to 4.93 ± 4.98%, 5.63 ± 5.10 cm 2 , respectively ( P = .006 and P = .037). For patients with double curves, the percentage of plantar pressure on the convex side foot, the percentage of pressure and force area difference between the convex and concave side were not significantly different. Furthermore, the total center of pressure (CoP) displacement was significantly decreased from 317.67 ± 71.54 mm to 278.13 ± 73.87 mm ( P = .04). Wearing spinal orthoses can significantly improve the symmetry of plantar pressure distribution in patients with AIS.