The effect of exercise training on electromyography measurements, muscle strength, and quality of life in children with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Objective: This study aims to see the effect of core stabilization exercise training on muscle strength, quality of life, and long-term improvement of the Cobb angle in patients with AIS in comparison to traditional scoliosis exercises. Methods: 32 patients with AIS were included in this prospective, randomized and controlled study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups as study group (n=16) and control group (n=16). All patients were taught homebased traditional scoliosis exercises to be applied daily for 8 weeks. Additionally, patients in the training group received core stabilization exercise training by a physiotherapist 2 days a week for 8 weeks. Some of the primary outcome measurements were as follows: Biodex isokinetic dynamometer for the muscle strength measurement, EMG for the measurement of the electromyographic activities of the muscles, SRS-22 questionere for the measurement of the quality of life, and Cobb angle follow-up for the measurement of long-term progression of the disease. The measurements were carried out before and after the treatment. Results: For all the measurement outcomes, the significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Comparing the two groups, the initial values of the mesaurements and their demographic data were homogenous. When the groups were compared, it was found that the core stabilization exercise training provided statistically siginificant improvements in terms of the quality of life, cosmetic deformity perception, spine flexibility, electromyographic data, muscle strength, Cobb angle and angles of trunk rotation. Conclusion: As a result of our study, it was found that core stabilization exercise training increases muscle strength, neuromuscular control, quality of life and it decreases the Cobb angle.