Lumbo-abdominal muscle activity while standing in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract

Objective To characterize the lumbo-abdominal muscles activities of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients in different standing postures by using surface electromyography (sEMG).Methods A total of 33 AIS patients and 15 healthy subjects were recruited.The sEMG signals from the lumbo-abdominal muscles of the healthy subjects and AIS patients were measured with the FlexComp Infiniti apparatus.The sEMG signals were recorded in different standing postures with and without visual and auditory input.The activation of the lumbo-abdominal muscles was compared between healthy subjects and AIS patients.Results In different standing posture with and without visual and auditory information input,the activation rate of the concave side of the apex level paraspinal muscle was 4.91％ MVIC,5.22％ MVIC,5.51％ MVIC,6.01％ MVIC,and the activation rate of the convex side of the apex level paraspinal muscle was 6.45％ MVIC,7.69％ MVIC,8.31％ MVIC,8.77％ MVIC.The activation of the paraspinal muscles at the concave side of the apex level was lower than that of the convex side in the AIS group in different standing postures with and without visual and auditory input.The activation of the paraspinal muscles at the convex side of the apex level was lower during standing on the stable plane with visual and auditory input than during standing on the soft cushion without visual and auditory input in the AIS group.Conclusion The activation of the bilateral apex level paraspinal muscles is asymmetry in AIS patients.It is easier to activate the paraspinal muscles at the convex side of the apex level during standing on the soft cushion without visual and auditory input in AIS patients. Key words: Adolescents;  Scoliosis;  Lumbo-abdominal muscles;  Surface electromyography