Importance of abdominal musculature in children with scoliosis

Objective. Our study examined strength of axial muscle kinetic chains in children with scoliosis, with special reference to abdominal muscles. Method. Study was conducted as diagnostic research in school children with previously confirmed scoliosis with natural, pragmatic design. Study participants were divided at two groups according to degree of scoliotic curvature: I group (0- 20°, n=42) and II group (>20°, n=18). Manual muscular tests were performed on following skeletal muscles: trapezius descending and ascending part, serratus anterior, rhomboids, latissimus dorsi, infraspinatus, teres major, supraspinatus, rectus abdominis, abdominal oblique, transversus abdominal, errector spinae, gluteus maximus, quadriceps femoris, and crural flexors, plantar and dorsal foot muscles, according to five grade scale, for each of body sides. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used for data analysis. Results. Children in the second group were significantly older, with leg shortening much more expressed as well as greater thoracic gibbosity, more frequent double curvatures and triple ones, greater spine translation to the left and rotation of vertebrae. Some variables did not differ between groups like gender, flat feet index and spine translation to the right. Only statistically significant difference in strength between groups was recorder for latissimus dorsi muscle, 3.71+-/0.55 (group I) and 3.33+/-0.49 (group II), respectively (mean, SD, p=0.015). For majority of other skeletal muscle non-significant trend of less strength was recorded. Conclusion. Strength of abdominal musculature could be significantly affected in children with scoliosis. Extent of disturbances differs in different muscles, and further studies are necessary to clarify true importance of our findings.