Respiratory muscle strength in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess the respiratory muscle strength in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS), conservatively treated using exercises by Dobosiewicz [1].

Study design

The study group included eighty-one subjects (65 female, 16 male) aged 7 to 17 years (mean age 14.3 ± 2.3 years) with thoracic scoliosis (n = 44) and double major scoliosis (n = 37). Mean Cobb angle was 39 degrees (SD 17.8) and mean apical vertebral rotation (AVR) was 12 ± 7.1 degrees.

Methods

Vital capacity (VC) was measured using Jaeger's spirometer and values were compared to Zapletal's recommendations [2]. Maximal static respiratory pressures including maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), were measured according to W. Tomalak's recommendations for Polish children [3]. Measurements were made using a portable, digital pressure meter equipped with the Omega PX25 pressure transducer (ZETA product – model MMM2).

Results and conclusion

The maximal static respiratory pressures (percent predicted value) in children with scoliosis conservatively treated using exercises by Dobosiewicz were normal (MIP mean 119.1 ± 40.25%). For MEP, values (mean 164.9 ± 35.96%) were even higher than predicted, which may be related to age (the norm of adolescents is extrapolated) and/or the effect of rehabilitation on physical performance.