Affiliations: Musculoskeletal Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Mohammad Taghi Karimi, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, P.O.B: 81745-164, Iran. Tel.: +98 313 7925074; Fax: +98 313 6687270; E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Scoliosis is one of the common spinal deformities and
considered as lateral curvature of the spine. Scoliosis lead to changes in
the synergy between body segments, spinal anatomy, left-right trunk symmetry
and cause pathological gait pattern [1,4,5-7]. Scoliosis is a structural
deformity, so it can alter center of mass (COM) position and weight
distribution on lower limbs. This suggests that scoliotic patients show the
poorer stability rather aged match normal group. It was controversial that
scoliosis influences the balance and gait performances, and also the effects
of brace on these parameters. Therefore, it was aimed to evaluate the
available literatures on balance and gait of scoliotic subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a search via PubMed, Google
scholar and ISI web of knowledge to identify studies on scoliosis field and
the effect of this deformity on kinetic and kinematic parameters as well as
the influence of bracing on mentioned parameters. Some key words such as
kinetic, kinematic, gait, stability, and walking were used in combination
with scoliosis. The publication dates of the full-length articles were
between 1998 and 2014. Down and Black tool was used to evaluate the quality
of the articles. RESULTS: Our multiple Medline searches led to the find out 54
papers that 26 of which were relevant based on title and abstract. Based on
their references, we retrieved 6 more articles. We ultimately included 31
articles in this literature review. The number of studies regarding the
influence of brace on kinetic and kinematic parameters in scoliotic subject
was small. Based on the results of various studies, there is no correlation
between gait pathology and scoliotic curve direction, no difference between
stability of scoliotic and normal subjects and no difference between range
of motions of lower limb joints in scoliotic subjects while walking with and
without orthosis. CONCLUSION: There was a not sufficient robust evidence to judge
about the influence of scoliosis deformity on kinetic and kinematic
parameters. However, it should be emphasized that use of orthosis may
influence the symmetry of gait and improve standing stability in adult with
idiopathic scoliosis.
