Balance and gait performance of scoliotic subjects: A review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Scoliosis is one of the common spinal deformities and considered as lateral curvature of the spine. Scoliosis lead to changes in the synergy between body segments, spinal anatomy, left-right trunk symmetry and cause pathological gait pattern [1,4-7]. Scoliosis is a structural deformity, so it can alter center of mass (COM) position and weight distribution on lower limbs. This suggests that scoliotic patients show the poorer stability rather aged match normal group. It was controversial that scoliosis influences the balance and gait performances, and also the effects of brace on these parameters. Therefore, it was aimed to evaluate the available literatures on balance and gait of scoliotic subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a search via PubMed, Google scholar and ISI web of knowledge to identify studies on scoliosis field and the effect of this deformity on kinetic and kinematic parameters as well as the influence of bracing on mentioned parameters. Some key words such as kinetic, kinematic, gait, stability, and walking were used in combination with scoliosis. The publication dates of the full-length articles were between 1998 and 2014. Down and Black tool was used to evaluate the quality of the articles. RESULTS: Our multiple Medline searches led to the find out 54 papers that 26 of which were relevant based on title and abstract. Based on their references, we retrieved 6 more articles. We ultimately included 31 articles in this literature review. The number of studies regarding the influence of brace on kinetic and kinematic parameters in scoliotic subject was small. Based on the results of various studies, there is no correlation between gait pathology and scoliotic curve direction, no difference between stability of scoliotic and normal subjects and no difference between range of motions of lower limb joints in scoliotic subjects while walking with and without orthosis. CONCLUSION: There was a not sufficient robust evidence to judge about the influence of scoliosis deformity on kinetic and kinematic parameters. However, it should be emphasized that use of orthosis may influence the symmetry of gait and improve standing stability in adult with idiopathic scoliosis.