The incidence of bracing treatment on static and dynamic baropodometric parameters in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

BackgroundPostural balance is an important but not well-studied concept in the treatment of adolescent scoliosis.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess whether conservative treatment with Sforzesco bracing induced negative perturbations on postural stability, as related to static, postural, and dynamic baropodometric indicators.MethodsFrom November 2020 to October 2021, 12 subjects (12 females, aged 11 – 16) with moderate AIS, were selected among a group of 97 patients. Inclusion criteria were: 1) confirmed diagnosis of moderate AIS (Cobb angle of 21° to 35° for the primary curve); 2) thoracic or thoracolumbar primary curve; 3) skeletal immaturity with growth cartilage visible on pretreatment radiographs (Risser < 5); 4) chronological age between 11 and 16 years; and 5) Sforzesco bracing treatment. All patients underwent a physical examination and radiological measurements with anteroposterior and lateral scans. Static, postural, and dynamic assessments were performed twice by barefoot patients, with and without Sforzesco bracing. ResultsComparison between demographic, anthropometric, and clinical data considered relevant for the homogeneity of the sample, highlighted the absence of statistically significant differences between patients. We evaluated the point of maximum pressure with and without bracing and found no statistically significant differences (p value = 0.22).In the postural measurements, the latero-lateral oscillations, antero-posterior oscillations, and the average speed of oscillations were evaluated, comparing measurements with and without bracing. There were no statistically significant differences, except for the mean rate of oscillation, which was slightly increased in the recordings with a brace compared to those without a brace, p value = 0.045. The CPEI was also evaluated in both situations, although no statistically significant differences either with and without bracing (p > 0.05) were found.ConclusionsIn this study, we evaluated the effects of the Sforzesco brace on postural balance in a sample of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis, to assess whether conservative treatment would lead to adverse disturbances in postural stability. Our findings show no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in static, postural, and dynamic baropodometric indicators.