Correction of spinal curvatures by transcutaneous electrical muscle stimulation

Abstract

Transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation was used to induce acute scoliosis of up to 56 degrees in straight cat spines. Conversely in humans, surface muscle stimulation was able to acutely correct 35 idiopathic scoliosis curves an average of 44%. The amount of correction obtained increased linearly with the length of the skeletal lever arms (ribs, pelvis) interconnecting the stimulated musculature with the vertebrae of the spinal curve. When the electrodes were placed over the lateral trunk musculature rather than on the paraspinals, the scoliosis reduction improved threefold. Similar results were found in a group of seven neuromuscular scoliotics. Muscle groups stimulated were detected with thermography. In 18 kyphosis patients, an average of 13 degrees correction was accomplished with stimulation of the paraspinal musculature. The foundation for clinical use of surface muscle stimulation in the management of excessive spinal curvatures was established, with guidelines for electrode placement in scoliosis, kyphosis, lordosis, and curvature combinations.