Background: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a three-dimensional deformity of spine and trunk with a higher incidence in girls. AIS alters and reduces postural control and balance. Self-correction movement (SCM) is a well-known non-invasive approach to ameliorate spine curve in AIS subjects. We aimed to evaluate the effects of SCM on the spine and on the balance of adolescents with AIS with a new non-invasive instrumentation.

Methods: A total of 38 girls with AIS were recruited. To evaluate the acute effects of SCM and the oscillations of center of pressure (COP), we used LiDAR technology combined with a stabilometric platform to evaluate both changes in spinal curves and balance at the same time. Two tests were carried out simultaneously using the two instruments: before the execution of SCM, in the spontaneously assumed position of each subject (SP) and after the execution of SCM, during the achieved position (SC). Sway area, COP medio-lateral and antero-posterior directions, eccentricity of the ellipse and vertebral lateral deviation were recorded. The two conditions were compared with aWilcoxon signed-rank test.

Results: In general, all measures showed lower values in SC condition (p < 0.05), except the variation along the Y axis.

Conclusions: Thanks to objective measured data, the therapists observed real-time changes during the performance of SCM, appreciating its efficacy on curve correction.

2.3. Instruments
To evaluate the acute effects of SCM on spine curves, we used light detection and ranging technology (LiDAR) called Spine3D (Sensor medica, Guidonia Montecelio, Rome, Italy): an innovative and non-invasive three-dimensional optoelectronic detection system (Kinect) that allows an accurate assessment of vertebrae alignment.

tags: spine, spine3d, spine 3d, baropodometry, posture, movement