Initial and Treatment induced Changes to Muscle Activation Patterns in Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Compared

INTRODUCTION: Scoliosis affects 2-4% of the population in the United States and unfortunately the most common treatment prior to bracing and surgery is no treatment at all. Scoliosis is a three dimensional deformity of the spine which includes lateral bending, rotation and in many instances flattening of the sagittal curves. Mechanical compression and distraction forces are known to modulate growth in vertebral growth plates, and they have been implicated in the progression of scoliosis. When congenital anomaly is present the most common finding is hemivertebra occurring 45% of the time and in general a familiar history of spinal distortion is present in approximately 17% of those affected with congenital scoliosis. In the absence of congenital anomaly much speculation exists as to the cause of developmental scoliosis. Overall the etiology of scoliosis is not well defined. One mechanism may be the accelerated growth of the anterior pillar of the spine in comparison to the posterior pillar. Such an imbalance causes scoliosis deformity in computer modeling and a similar crank shaft phenomenon has been observed following artificial spinal fixation in the premature skeleton.