KINESIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF DYNAMIC SIDE-SHIFT IN PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the ability of th e patients with idiopathic scoliosis to transfer the body weight in th e frontal plane. Design: Randomized and controlled study. Setting: A r eferral center and institutional practice and outpatient care. Subject s: Fifty patients with idiopathic scoliosis (three men and forty-seven women; average age 15.3 years) and 15 normal women (average age 17.3 years) participated in this study. Thirty patients were treated with u nderarm braces. Main Outcome Measures: Computer-assisted farce plates were used to evaluate the laterally shifted weight and the time period during side-shift on sitting. Results: During both slow and fast side -shifts, shifted weight in the patients with idiopathic scoliosis was significantly less than in the normal controls (p < 0.05). The shifted weight was less on the concave side than on the convex one. The time for the shift to the concave side was longer in the patients than in t he normal controls (p < 0.05). The brace was effective in correcting t he imbalance of shifted weight in the patients with idiopathic scolios is. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated the different patterns of weight side-shift between normal subjects and patients with idiopa thic scoliosis. The patients transferred less weight laterally than th e normal subjects during slow and fast random movements. The patients also showed slower side-shift patterns than the normal subjects during the fast random movement. (C) 1995 by the American Congress of Rehabi litation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Re habilitation