An Aerobic Exercising Program on Respiratory Muscle Strength in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

An Aerobic Exercising Program on Respiratory Muscle Strength in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Results of an Aerobic Exercising Program on Respiratory Muscle Strength in Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: a Randomized, Controlled Trial

Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) can change the respiratory dynamics and performance of the inspiratory and expiratory muscles, affecting ventilatory capacity. This was a randomized, controlled, open study to test the impact of a physiotherapeutic program of aerobic exercises on respiratory muscle strength, in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Patients with AIS were randomly assigned to the aerobic exercise-training program group or the no treatment group. There was a significant increase in Pimax and Pemax in the group which received physiotherapy.

Study Design: This was a randomized, controlled, open study to test the impact of a physiotherapeutic program of aerobic exercises on respiratory muscle strength, in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Objective. To analyze, by means of maximum respiratory pressure measurements, the conditioning of the respiratory muscles after four months of aerobic exercise training. Summary of Background Data. AIS can change the respiratory dynamics and performance of the inspiratory and expiratory muscles, affecting ventilatory capacity. Methods: Patients with AIS, aged between 10 and 20 years, were randomly assigned to the aerobic exercise-training program group or the no treatment group. They were evaluated for respiratory muscle strength before and after the treatment period, by means of a manometer, and radiographs of the chest and spine. The physical therapy exercise protocol consisted of three weekly sessions, including stretching, aerobic exercises (first mild and then accelerated) and relaxation techniques, for a period of four months.

The patients of the Exercise group were submitted to a four-month physiotherapy protocol, with three weekly sessions of 60 minutes each, accompanied by a physiotherapist, and consisting of warm-up, aerobic exercise on an electric treadmill, and then winding down and relaxation. Each patient in this group was therefore submitted to an average of 48 sessions of exercises, always carried out at the same physiotherapy center.

The patients of the control group were not submitted to any type of physical exercises. Like the patients submitted to the protocol, they were evaluated at the beginning, and again after four months.

Three weekly sessions, with an interval of one day between each, lasting 60 minutes each, and divided into three separate stages: - A 10-minute warm-up (stretching and low intensity aerobic exercises such as slow, gradual walking); - 40 minutes of aerobic exercise on an electric treadmill, with the work intensity maintained at a 60% to 80% of the maximum heart rate; - 10 minutes of winding down and relaxation (stretching exercises, low energy expenditure aerobics and relaxation techniques).

Maximum respiratory pressure measurements by means of a manometer: maximum inspiratory pressure (Pimax) and maximum expiratory pressure (Pemax)

Before the start of the proposed exercises, and one day after the last session of the exercise protocol, all the patients were evaluated using a manovacuometer.

Inclusion Criteria: aged between 10 and 20 years diagnosed as having adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with a spinal angle of scoliotic deformity of at least 45º, and candidates for surgical correction sedentary Exclusion Criteria: spinal angle deformities of less than 45º previous operation for spinal correction comorbidities (lung, heart or neurological diseases) that could interfere with the understanding of the procedures of this study (both diagnostic and interventional) regular physical activity

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