Balance Control in Adolescents With Idiopathic Scoliosis and Disturbed Somatosensory Function

Study Design. A cross-sectional study of the balance control in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis. Objective. To investigate the relationship among somatosensory function, balance control, and adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Summary of Background Data. Balance control requires the contribution of somatosensory, visual, and vestibular inputs. Previous studies have shown that abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were associated with AIS. Methods. A total of 105 girls with AIS and 57 normal girls aged 11–14 years entered the study, and were evaluated with bilateral tibial nerve evoked cerebral SSEPs and standing balance control under reduced or conflicting sensory conditions (i.e., the sensory organization test). One-way analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate the effects of scoliosis and somatosensory function tested by SSEPs on the performance of sensory organization test. Results. There were 15 patients with AIS who had abnormal SSEPs. Postural sway was measured on all subjects under normal, reduced, or conflicting somatosensory, visual, and vestibular conditions. One-way analysis of variance indicated no significant effect of spinal deformity or SSEPs on the balance control when there was an increased reliance on the somatosensory, visual, and vestibular systems during stance (P > 0.05). However, in the patients with abnormal SSEPs, a significant effect was found when subjects had to rely on somatosensory input for their balance control (P = 0.023). The effect of scoliosis by itself was not found to be significant (P = 1.0). Conclusions. The finding of significantly larger difference in bilateral SSEP latencies in patients with AIS indicated the association of abnormal SSEPs with AIS. The finding of a significant effect of SSEPs on the balance control further indicated the presence of abnormal somatosensory function in a subgroup of patients with AIS.

[1]  M C Speer,et al.  Chiari I malformation redefined: clinical and radiographic findings for 364 symptomatic patients. , 1999, Neurosurgery.

[2]  R Ortengren,et al.  Postural equilibrium in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. , 1978, Acta orthopaedica Scandinavica.

[3]  N. Byl,et al.  Postural imbalance and vibratory sensitivity in patients with idiopathic scoliosis: implications for treatment. , 1997, The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy.

[4]  N. Byl,et al.  Complex balance reactions in different sensory conditions: Adolescents with and without idiopathic scoliosis , 1993, Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society.

[5]  C. Sabatti,et al.  Familial horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis maps to chromosome 11q23-25 , 2002, Neurology.

[6]  Jaw-Lin Wang,et al.  The postural stability control and gait pattern of idiopathic scoliosis adolescents. , 1998, Clinical biomechanics.

[7]  J. Cheng,et al.  Correlation between curve severity, somatosensory evoked potentials, and magnetic resonance imaging in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. , 1999, Spine.

[8]  Jeremy D W Greenlee,et al.  Chiari I malformation in the very young child: the spectrum of presentations and experience in 31 children under age 6 years. , 2002, Pediatrics.

[9]  C. Hui-Chan,et al.  Tai Chi improves standing balance control under reduced or conflicting sensory conditions. , 2004, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[10]  Heydar Sadeghi,et al.  Relations Between Standing Stability and Body Posture Parameters in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis , 2002, Spine.

[11]  J. Colebatch,et al.  Vestibulospinal reflexes: quantitative effects of sensory feedback and postural task , 2001, Experimental Brain Research.

[12]  G. Gauchard,et al.  Influence of Different Types of Progressive Idiopathic Scoliosis on Static and Dynamic Postural Control , 2001, Spine.

[13]  J. Cheng,et al.  Posterior Tibial Nerve Somatosensory Cortical Evoked Potentials in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis , 1998, Spine.

[14]  K. Muraszko,et al.  Curve Progression in Scoliosis Associated With Chiari I Malformation Following Suboccipital Decompression , 2002, Journal of spinal disorders & techniques.

[15]  Xia Guo,et al.  Redefining the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reference Level for the Cerebellar Tonsil: A Study of 170 Adolescents with Normal Versus Idiopathic Scoliosis , 2003, Spine.

[16]  C. Hui-Chan,et al.  Effect of 4- and 8-wk intensive Tai Chi Training on balance control in the elderly. , 2004, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[17]  P. Allard,et al.  Effect of Body Morphology on Standing Balance in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis , 2004, American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation.

[18]  E. Dretakis,et al.  Congenital scoliosis associated with encephalopathy in five children of two families. , 1974, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume.