Back muscle function in adolescent girls treated with a rigid brace for idiopathic scoliosis: no impact of 6-month brace wear on muscle strength or endurance.

The study aimed to determine the impact of 6-month rigid brace on back muscle strength and endurance in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Sixty-one girls, aged 7.0-16.0, were analyzed in two groups: the study group (6-month rigid brace wear) vs. the control group (no brace treatment), recruited consecutively and matched for age, body height, weight, BMI, primary curve location and Cobb angle. All patients underwent clinical and radiological examination, modified Biering-Sorensen test, prone and standing maximum strength and endurance tests. No significant difference between groups in back muscles strength or endurance, both gobal and reported to body weight was found. No relation between the daily brace time and the back muscle strength or endurance was observed. The 6-month use of a rigid brace did not affect the strength or endurance of the back muscles in adolescent girls treated for idiopathic scoliosis.