A preliminary study on electromyographic analysis of the paraspinal musculature in idiopathic scoliosis.

The paraspinal muscles have been implicated as a major causative factor in the progression of idiopathic scoliosis. Therefore, the objectives of this preliminary study were to measure the electromyographic activity (EMG) of the paraspinal muscles to determine its relationship to progression of the scoliotic curve. Idiopathic scoliotic patients were selected and identified afterwards on curve progression.

The relation between electromyography and growth velocity of the spine in the evaluation of curve progression in idiopathic scoliosis.

Study Design: A prospective study in which patients with idiopathic scoliosis were examined longitudinally by radiographic and electromyographic measurements according to a protocol.

Objectives: To measure the growth velocity of the spine and the electromyographic ratio of the paraspinal muscles to determine their relation to progression of the scoliotic curve.

Summary Of Background Data: Several factors have been reported to be involved in the progression of idiopathic scoliosis.

The reliability of quantitative analysis on digital images of the scoliotic spine.

Although analysis of scoliotic deformity is still studied extensively by means of conventional roentgenograms, computer-assisted digital analysis may allow a faster, more accurate and more complete evaluation of the scoliotic spine. In this study, a new computer-assisted measurement method was evaluated. This method uses digital reconstruction images for quantitative analysis of the scoliotic spine.

Perception of vertical and horizontal orientation in children with scoliosis.

To determine whether the perception of body posture is altered in idiopathic scoliosis, a simple neurophysiologic experiment through laser line projection was conducted to test this hypothesis in three groups of individuals: 89 children with idiopathic scoliosis (IS), 50 children with congenital scoliosis (CS) and 45 controls without scoliosis. The subjects were instructed to adjust a laser line projection to the direction of gravity in vertical and in horizontal projections in a dark environment. The performance, expressed as the deviation from the earth vertical (measured in degrees), was calculated by a computer.