The effect of orthotic interventions on balance performance in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: Spinal bracing is one form of conservative treatment used in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

AIM: The aim of this review was therefore to evaluate the effect of brace treatment on balance in subjects with AIS.

METHOD: The search strategy was based on the Population Intervention Comparison Outcome (PICO). PubMed, Scopus, ISI web of knowledge, Ovid, the Cochrane library (CENTRAL) and Google scholar databases and also the reference lists of relevant articles were searched for articles of clinical trials with level of evidence of three or more of AIS that underwent spinal bracing treatment.

RESULTS: Ten studies, investigating a total of 282 subjects with AIS, met the inclusion criteria. AIS subjects were characterized by a significant increase in the excursion of their center of pressure position compared with healthy subjects. AIS subjects are able to control their quiet standing balance via muscle co-contraction and proprioceptive stimulation, but following a short period of brace wear, no further improvement in balance parameters has been observed.

CONCLUSION: There is a requirement to follow up the use and wear of orthoses and also studies with high quality in subjects with AIS.