ORIGINAL PAPER
Effect of physiotherapy on spinal alignment in children with postural defects
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1
Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy)
2
Provincial Integrated Hospital in Kielce, Kielce, Poland (Świętokrzyskie Center for Pediatrics)
3
Wye Valley Foundation Trust, Hereford, United Kingdom (Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hereford County Hospital)
4
Rehabilitation Centre, Zgorzelec, Poland
5
Technical University in Dresden, Dresden, Germany (Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering)
Online publication date: 2019-01-16
Corresponding author
Anna Zmyślna
Jan Kochanowski University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Phisiotherapy, al. IX Wieków Kielc 19A, 25-317 Kielce, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):25-32
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: This paper assesses the effect of neurophysiological rehabilitation in children with postural defects on the depth of thoracic kyphosis, lateral
spinal deviation and rotation of spinal motor segments. Material and Methods: A total of 201 patients aged 8–15 years old with a postural defect diagnosed
by medical examination were enrolled. The analyzed parameters were determined using the DIERS system before the first therapeutic session
and after 4 weeks of therapy. The angle of thoracic kyphosis, lateral deviation of the spine and spinal rotation were assessed. The therapy employed
techniques associated with the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and Vojta’s approaches. The results were analyzed separately for both
sexes and for patients rehabilitated solely with Vojta’s techniques vs. patients rehabilitated according to combined Vojta’s and PNF techniques. The
χ2 test was used for statistical analyses, at p < 0.05. Results: There was improvement in the angle of thoracic kyphosis, ranging from 0.14 (among boys
with kyphosis < 42°) to 5.47 (among girls with kyphosis ≥ 42°), spinal rotation, from 0.37 (among boys with kyphosis ≥ 42°) to 4.33 (among patients
with kyphosis ≥ 42° rehabilitated solely according to Vojta’s method), and lateral deviations, ranging from 1.32 mm (among boys with kyphosis < 42°)
to 2.99 mm (among patients with kyphosis ≥ 42° rehabilitated solely according to Vojta’s method). Conclusions: Neurophysiological rehabilitation of
patients with postural defects produced positive effects by improving the angle of thoracic kyphosis, spinal rotation and lateral deviation of the spine.
Children with reduced thoracic kyphosis achieved less improvement in the kyphosis angle, lateral spinal deviation and spinal rotation than children with
kyphosis ≥ 42°. The DIERS Formetric System enables precise monitoring of therapeutic outcomes. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):25–32