CONTEXT: Various studies report decreased muscle activation in the concavity of the curve in patients with scoliosis. Such decreased muscle-performance capacity could lead to sustained postural deficits. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether specific asymmetrical sports therapy exercises rather than symmetrical back strengthening can increase EMG amplitudes of paraspinal muscles in the concavity of the curve. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 16 patients with idiopathic scoliosis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients performed 4 back-strengthening exercises (front press, lat pull-down, roman chair, bent-over barbell row) during 1 test session. Each exercise was performed in a symmetrical and asymmetrical variant and repeated 3 times. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: EMG amplitudes of the paraspinal muscles were recorded in the thoracic and lumbar apexes of the scoliotic curve during each exercise. Ratios of convex- to concave-side EMG activity were calculated. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that the asymmetrical variants of front press at the lumbar level (P=.002) and roman chair and bent-over barbell row at the thoracic level (P<.0001, .001 respectively) were superior in increasing EMG amplitudes in the concavity of the scoliotic curve. CONCLUSIONS: Specific asymmetrical exercises increase EMG amplitudes of paraspinal muscles in the concavity. If confirmed in longitudinal studies measuring improvements of postural deficits, these exercises may advance care of patients with scoliosis.
CONTEXT: Various studies report decreased muscle activation in the concavity of the curve in patients with scoliosis. Such decreased muscle-performance capacity could lead to sustained postural deficits. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether specific asymmetrical sports therapy exercises rather than symmetrical back strengthening can increase EMG amplitudes of paraspinal muscles in the concavity of the curve. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 16 patients with idiopathic scoliosis. INTERVENTIONS:Patients performed 4 back-strengthening exercises (front press, lat pull-down, roman chair, bent-over barbell row) during 1 test session. Each exercise was performed in a symmetrical and asymmetrical variant and repeated 3 times. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: EMG amplitudes of the paraspinal muscles were recorded in the thoracic and lumbar apexes of the scoliotic curve during each exercise. Ratios of convex- to concave-side EMG activity were calculated. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that the asymmetrical variants of front press at the lumbar level (P=.002) and roman chair and bent-over barbell row at the thoracic level (P<.0001, .001 respectively) were superior in increasing EMG amplitudes in the concavity of the scoliotic curve. CONCLUSIONS: Specific asymmetrical exercises increase EMG amplitudes of paraspinal muscles in the concavity. If confirmed in longitudinal studies measuring improvements of postural deficits, these exercises may advance care of patients with scoliosis.
Authors: Wiesław Chwała; Agnieszka Koziana; Tadeusz Kasperczyk; Robert Walaszek; Maciej Płaszewski Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-09-02 Impact factor: 3.411
Authors: Atle Hole Saeterbakken; Tom Erik J Solstad; David G Behm; Nicolay Stien; Matthew Peter Shaw; Helene Pedersen; Vidar Andersen Journal: Eur J Appl Physiol Date: 2020-08-27 Impact factor: 3.078