A team of researchers investigating the effect of spinal orthoses on the plantar pressure distribution in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) concluded that use of the orthoses can significantly improve the symmetry of plantar pressure distribution.
In the prospective observational cohort study, 30 patients with AIS received customized Cheneau spinal orthoses. The researchers used the FreeMed platform and Freestep plantar pressure analysis system to perform static and dynamic plantar pressure tests before the initial orthosis fitting and after six months of orthosis wearing. The tests were repeated three times, and the mean values were used for the final analyses.
After six months of orthotic treatment, the off-orthosis correction rate was 19.5 percent. The percentage of pressure difference between the convex and concave side foot (8.67 ± 5.23 percent) and the force area difference between the convex and concave side foot (8.40 ± 5.10 cm2) were significantly reduced to 4.93 ± 4.98 percent, and 5.63 ± 5.10 cm2, respectively.
For patients with double curves, the percentage of plantar pressure on the convex side foot, the percentage of pressure, and force area difference between the convex and concave side were not significantly different. The total center of pressure displacement was significantly decreased from 317.67 ± 71.54 mm to 278.13 ± 73.87 mm.
The open-access study, “The effect of orthotic treatment on plantar pressure distribution in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A prospective observational study,” was published in Medicine.
