The effect of aerobic training in girls with idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of aerobic training in girls with idiopathic scoliosis, in selective respiratory parameters (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/VC% FEV1/FVC) as well as the ability to perform aerobic work (PWC170). The training group consisted of 20 young girls with a mean age of 13.5 +/- 0.16 years. They wore a Boston-type brace for a mean period of 0.30 +/- 0.04 years and suffered from a scoliotic curve (27.4 +/- 1.9 degrees). They followed a two-month training program on the cycloergometer. Each training session lasted 30 min and was performed four times a week. The control group consisted of 20 girls with a mean age of 13.6 +/- 0.18 years and they wore the same type of brace for a mean period of 0.24 +/- 0.04 years. They also suffered from a scoliosis (29.5 +/- 1.8 degrees). The results of the study revealed that aerobic training sustained (VC, FEV1, FEV1/VC) or improved significantly (FVC, FEV1/FVC) the parameters of pulmonary function, while the respective parameters (VC, FVC) for the control group were reduced during the two-month period. The ability to perform aerobic work increased 48.1% (P < 0.01) in the training group, while it decreased 9.2% (P < 0.01) in the control group.