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Clinical balance tests, proprioceptive system and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

European Spine Journal volume 26, pages 1638–1644 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

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.

Methods

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.

Results

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.

Conclusion

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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the HARPS Association members for their helpful comments (study methodology). The authors thank the rehabilitation teams in the participating centers whose cooperation was essential for this work (clinical balance tests) (C. Delobel, J. Guibaud, C. Dufour, M. Avila, C. Decock, C. Vandermeiren, C. Jacquemin).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soins de Suite et de Réadaptation Pédiatrique Marc Sautelet de Villeneuve d’Ascq, 59650, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France

    Morgane Le Berre, Isabelle Bourdeauducq, Marie-Christine Versyp & Jean-Francois Catanzariti

  2. Université Nord de France, 59000, Lille, France

    Marc-Alexandre Guyot, Olivier Agnani, Cécile Donze, André Thévenon & Jean-Francois Catanzariti

  3. Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation–Centre Hospitalier Saint Philibert de Lomme, Groupe Hospitalier de l’Institut Catholique de Lille (GHICL), Lomme, France

    Marc-Alexandre Guyot, Olivier Agnani, Cécile Donze & Jean-Francois Catanzariti

  4. Institut de Formation en Masso-Kinésithérapie du Nord de la France, Lille, France

    Isabelle Bourdeauducq & Jean-Francois Catanzariti

  5. Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation–Hôpital Swynghedauw, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, 59000, Lille, France

    Morgane Le Berre & André Thévenon

  6. Service de Rhumatologie–Hôpital Roger Salengro, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, Lille, France

    Jean-Francois Catanzariti

Authors
  1. Morgane Le Berre
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  2. Marc-Alexandre Guyot
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  3. Olivier Agnani
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  8. Jean-Francois Catanzariti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean-Francois Catanzariti.

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Authors have any potential conflict of interest, real or perceived; without study sponsor, in study design, the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, the writing of the report, and the decision to submit the paper for publication.

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Le Berre, M., Guyot, MA., Agnani, O. et al. Clinical balance tests, proprioceptive system and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Eur Spine J 26, 1638–1644 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4802-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-016-4802-z

Keywords

  • Idiopathic scoliosis
  • Proprioceptive sensory
  • Postural balance test
  • Postural control
  • Fukuda stepping test