Abstract

TOSATO, Juliana de Paiva  and  CARIA, Paulo Henrique Ferreira. Assessment of the muscle activity on scoliosis. Rev. bras. crescimento desenvolv. hum. [online]. 2009, vol.19, n.1, pp. 98-102. ISSN 0104-1282.

INTRODUCTION: scoliosis is characterized by tridimensional modifications consisting of lateral curvature on the frontal plane, lateral rotation on the transverse plane, and rectification on the sagittal plane. Measurement of the scoliotic curve is utilized to follow its evolving character and its muscular behavior, and the assessment performed through the electromyography can be an important indicative of predisposition regarding scoliosis progression. The objective of this study was to assess the behavior of muscles involved in the scoliosis biomechanics through the electromyographic exam. METHODS: to accomplish this present study, a nine years old female subject with idiopathic thoracolumbar "S" scoliosis was evaluated. The patient was diagnosed 6 months prior to the study, and presented Cobb angle of 20º in both curvatures. The electromyographic exam assessed the muscles multifidus, longissimus thoracis, and iliocostalis, bilaterally. RESULTS: after analyzing the RMS (Root Means Square) values obtained during rest orthostatism, it was observed activity of the assessed musculature was greater in the left antimere, in the convex side of the primary curvature. CONCLUSIONS: it was observed muscle activation asymmetry, fact that may contribute to the progression of the scoliotic curvature.

Keywords : scoliosis; electromyography; spinal muscles.

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