Comparison of Respiratory Muscle Electromyography between Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis and Healthy Subjects

purpose: scoliosis is one of the most common spinal deformities that affect chest wallmechanics. scoliosis results in ventilator disorders and respiratory muscle weakness. however,the mechanism of these disorders is still unknown. the main objective of this study was toidentify the intensity of respiratory muscles activity in patients with idiopathic scoliosis comparewith healthy individuals and determine the relationship between scoliosis degree and respiratorydysfunctions. in this study, 20 female patients with adult idiopathic scoliosis (mild, moderate) aswell as 10 healthy matched individuals with characteristics of the patients were selected. methods: electromyography values were recorded through rest phase. in addition, theelectromyography values of external intercostal muscles and diaphragm were recorded bilaterally. results: the rms of concave and convex external intercostal muscles and concave diaphragmin patients with idiopathic scoliosis were reduced significantly relative to healthy individualsin rest (p<0.001, p<0.001, p=0.023). .there was a correlation between scoliosis degree anddecrease in concave and convex intercostal muscle performances (p=0.001) but there was nocorrelation in diaphragm muscle. conclusion: respiratory muscle performance is drastically decreased in patients with adultidiopathic scoliosis. there was a relationship between scoliosis degree and respiratorydysfunction. this reduction has more observed in concave side and resulted in reducedphysical capacity.