Proprioceptive Accuracy in Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract

Defects in proprioceptive Postural control have been linked to the etiology of idiopathic scoliosis. In particular, a rearrangement of the internal representation of the body has been proposed in these cases. In this study, upper–extremity proprioceptive accuracy was compared among the following groups: 1) patients with idiopathic scoliosis (n = 25); 2) subjects with nonprogressive spinal asymmetry detected by screening in school (n = 23); 3) subjects undergoing behavioral training for nocturnal enuresis (n = 17); and 4) normal subjects (n = 134). A significant inaccuracy was found among the righthanded subjects of the scoliosis and spinal asymmetry groups as compared to the normal group. It is postulated that proprioceptive dysfunction, or borderline function, is a causative factor of spinal asymmetry, which is often observed in early adolescence and which in some cases may be progressive.