Effectiveness of pressure biofeedback / pbu (pressure biofeedback unit) in the process of learning of self-correction in patients with scoliosis: a pilot study

Introduction

The self-correction or active correction on all levels, in the treatment of scoliosis, is now a key tool with, or without, brace treatment [1]. The primary difficulty that the patient found is to understand which muscles to activate, and how to do it to achieve significant changes in the spine, since each patient adopts a personal strategy, hardly ever fair and efficient.

Aim

The aim of this study is to verify the usefulness of the BPU to facilitate the learning processes of the Self-Correction, in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, in free or brace treatment. Through a BPU, each patient can be facilitated, by learning a right activation of the deep muscles of the spine [2], the clinician can also objectify the course of treatment.

Methods

We enrolled 10 patients (5 for the experimental group, and 5 for control group) with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, treated for up to 4 individual sessions of 40 minutes, according to a Self-correction of the scoliotic curve learning approach. Inclusion criteria:

• Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

• Cobb degrees range between 15 ° and 30 °

• Patients with, or without, brace treatment

The control group, mean age 12.4 years, Risser 2.6 and degrees Cobb 14.8 °, was driven to the learning of Self-correction in the traditional way (verbal approach and passive movement) while with the experimental group, mean age 13.2 years, Risser 3 and degrees Cobb 15.2, we introduced using of the BPU to obtain the vertebral derotation [3]. Patients were subjected to analysis of posture with Formetric in 1 ^ seated (at rest) and 2^, 3^ and 4 ^ session (position of Self-correction), to evaluate the timing, and the ability to learn.

Results

The experimental group used an average of 96 minutes (2.4 sessions) to learn Self-correction, unlike the control group, which required 120 minutes (3 sessions).

Conclusions

The results of this pilot study define the usefulness of further research in this field, through an RCT of appropriate size.